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Disco is long overdue for a comeback - that being proper disco, before it was given a bad reputation by the tracks hen parties dance to in Reflex on a Friday night. And with a name like Hercules & Love Affair, it was never going to be anything other than high-concept. H&LA is the brainchild of Brooklyn DJ/producer Andrew Butler, but the most recognisable presence on the album is that of collaborator Antony Hegarty of ‘…and The Johnsons’ fame. From the first track 'Free Will' his wavering croon seems like it should be completely at odds with the slightly sinister electronic backing, but is somehow perfectly attuned to it. The following track 'Hercules' Theme' is an early highlight, parping 80s brass and sawing strings melding seamlessly with the pulsating electronic elements of the production.
First single 'Blind' also has Antony's presence stamped indelibly upon it, the groove recalling Soft Cell or Yazoo and powered along by very 80s bass octaves and twitchy percussion. 'Iris' meanwhile is far more down tempo with Kim Ann Foxmann taking the lead, her mellifluous vocals propelled by a squelchy acid bassline and bongo-heavy beat, compelling you to 'put on your best clothes, stand straight and tall / don't give up on your desires'.
'This Is My Love' is another timeless tune which would have sounded at home in late 70s Chicago but would also fit perfectly on a Hot Chip album. Live trumpets nestle in next to the wonky beats to create a lolloping workout that sounds more self-assured and at ease with itself than any dance music in recent years. The album also avoids the usual pitfall of tailing off towards the end, with closer 'True False / Fake Real' blending doo-wop vocals with funk bass and a vaguely demented descending piano riff (as well as the ever-present bongos) to create a disconcerting but powerful close.
H&LA is guaranteed a place on the end-of-year lists by the virtue of its glacial cool-factor, but the languorous, effortless quality that stretches across the album ensures that such plaudits are well deserved. Any whiff of cheese that the album's style would suggest is quickly given a dose of Febreze by the impassioned vocal performances of Antony and his fellow collaborators, and by the very human pulse of emotion that runs through the production. True, it lacks any one standout tune and is more likely to be soundtracking an artsy dinner party than a wild night out, but H&LA provide a timely reminder that disco is nothing to be ashamed of.
