It's not often I flag a release date on my calendar and run to iTunes/record store the day something is released, but i did that with the new Gang Gang Dance joint, "Saint Dymphna".
Gang Gang is a Brooklyn freak out-type of band (once sharing jam space/apartment with Black Dice and Animal Collective). Some of their early stuff sounds like a bunch of stoned hipsters banging on pipes and playing Casios in somebody's basement (probably true). But they really broke through on "God's Money" a few years ago, top 10 of all time type CD in my opinion.
The new album build off of God's Money - weird ethnic percussion, 80's synths, yelping female vocals, but all served up in a surprisingly accessible package - as well as the more techno-y shit that they have put out since then. Crazy lazer beam sounds and shit fill up the space between the instruments and vocals.
This is the best use of the 80's throw back trend right now in that it uses pieces of that era to create something new and exciting, instead of being a parody of music from 2 decades ago (like that new M83 joint, which sucks, and sounds like it could be The Breakfast Club soundtrack).
Having said that, "House Jam" on the new GGD is beyond a homage to "Into The Groove" era Madonna, it could be a b-side from the "Like a Virgin" tour. I wanted to delete it, but it would break up the way the whole cd is cross-faded, with similar textures and sounds throughout, presenting one cohesive whole (I love that). Also, hate to say this is the jam that gets stuck in my head and I'm singing while i walk around the city.
Also, on one track a Wiley-type rapper ("grime"? is that what that was called? "Garage"?) raps on one track and it is actually pretty dope.
Anywho, long story short, this is dope. NY Times did an article on them this week (!) and Pitchfork gave it a 8.5 on teh richter scale. I used up the last of my iTunes gift certificates to get it... It's unprotected, so if you are up for a trade check me out and I'll throw this on a DVD with a ton of other shit.
3 comments:
That Princes track is off the charts! They mix a lot of styles and make it work, no idea how. I dig the almost middle eastern sounding vocals. I guess they have that sigur ros made up language thing happening on some tracks. Good choice DZA. The SHZA!
The new M83 is really cool. You rip on it for sounding like it's from the 80s but then praise GGD for the same thing? Your reactionary ways are one thing, but your intellectual inconsistency just makes for incoherence, DC........
M83 are just unbelieavably boring/predictable in their appropriation. GGD seem to bring something sort of fresh to the mix, although not much more.
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