A Species Out of Control

One of my favorite electronic duos from England is back with Unpatterns. Producers/remixers James Ford and James Shaw formed Simian Mobile Disco in 2005, following their departure from the experimental electronic rock band Simian. The 35-year-olds are known worldwide for “Attack Decay Sustain Release” in 2007 and “Temporary Pleasure” in 2009. In between regular DJ gigs, the gents created “Unpatterns” over two years in their home studio, jamming on 1970s analog gear. “We took much longer on this one and we were more selfish,” says Shaw. “We knew we wanted to do something more psychedelic and maybe a bit warmer.” Layering simple sequences atop one another, the two sought the audio equivalent of a “moire pattern” — a visual effect that can be seen on textiles like silk, bird feathers, or simply by walking past two parallel chain-link fences. “You’re waiting for that effect to happen and when you get it you’re like, ‘Sweet, thank you very much.’ You’d have to be much smarter than either of us to plan it from the outset,” Shaw says. “We just do loads and loads of tunes and come back to them. It doesn’t really make any sense to do proper documentation.” Going along with the Moire Pattern, there is also a mobile App that was created as a collaboration with Kate Moross and Boreal Kiss. It allows you to listen to the entirety of the album while playing with a host of the aforementioned patterns. The patterns are manipulated on a touch screen, allowing you to create shifting and evolving interference patterns. Thanks, Bjork, for setting the pace for other electronic acts to start making app-friendly music. I know I will be pretty tempted to purchase said app, as my iphone has become a vital, yet completely frivolous tool within my existence. Overall, the sound of Unpatterns is a step back to a sound SMD have been cultivating since 2005. Less cold, minimal techno than Delicacies, it has some vocals and a warmer sound, still being a danceable album or great for the car. I predict this album will be a necessary addition to your summer soundtrack. Feast your ears to "A Species Out of Control" here: To purchase your copy of Simian Mobile Disco's Unpatterns, email marta@alternativemusic.com