Photo:
Originally a side project of the now retired indie outfit Simian, James Ford and Jas Shaw have come along way from their humble beginnings in the spare room of a Manchester student house. The essence of their debut ‘Attack Decay Sustain Release’ has not been lost two years on from it’s release, minimal instrumentation layered with 2am beeps and bleeps and a plethora of guest vocalists was a formula that needed air-brushing rather than a complete re-spray.
‘Temporary Pleasure’ has been put together with a live performance ethos in mind, a series of peaks and troughs it builds up to crescendo twice. ‘Off The Map’ and ‘Ambulance’ are the most signature SMD tunes on display. The former a Kraftwerk-inspired homage that combines intensity with their signature vocal loop, ‘Keep on turning / Until there’s no turning back.’ The latter is a spine-tingling affair that sees a filthy bassline distorted with a sinister Ghost Train-worthy synth that is surely going to smash dancefloors for years to come. 10,000 Horses Can’t Be Wrong is written in a similar vain, head-fuck effects atop a minimalist beat and electro melody, it’s simplicity is startlingly engaging. Another one for the live arena.
'Temporary Pleasure' is not perfect however, opener ‘Cream Dream’ sees Super Furry’s Gruff Rhys sings falsetto as if an homage to adolescent youths (insert own sticky bedsheet gag here, go on please it needs it). Similarly ‘Turn Up The Dial’ doesn’t quite fit, as Young Fathers rap over the most hushed of breakbeats the feeling is – albeit radio-friendly - Black Eyed Peas and nobody wants that.
The stand-out track is the 80s-inspired ‘Cruel Intentions.’ A simple keyboard riff that allows Beth Ditto to display her full range and asserts herself as the definitive female performer of recent years. An instant smiler, Ditto is in her element and the club remixes will surely follow. New single ‘Audacity of Huge’ sees a brazen Chris Keating list his possessions in true rent-a-gold-chain rap-stylee. If anything is going to impress the 'bitches' then it’s definitely a ‘bag of Bill Murray {and a} Damien Hurst telephone.’ A list as eclectic as SMD’s influences, it could’ve been as a massive statement of intent had they put it as the opener.
SMD’s desire to diversify may see ‘Temporary Pleasure’ overlooked as a dance album per se, but thrown into the pop melting pot they are certain to please both club soundsystems and radio airwaves for much longer than the title suggests.
