DIGITALISM IDEALISM ALBUM EMI RELEASE: JUNE 13, 2007 REVIEW: AUGUST 14, 2007

Here's a slow burner to spend the day listening to. I mean that sincerely. On the surface, Digitalism appear direct, straight-forward, overtly blunt. Look deeper and you'll find yourself in seriously funky electro territory. This is the album you play when you've just left the club on your way to whatever 24hr institution will serve you. This is the sound you hear in the small hours when the comedown hits. Digitalism have crafted a delightfully thought-provoking mood-sharpening album here.

Anchored on several tunes by more than able booty shaking basslines, "Idealism" pushes you to flaunt it; here we have an example of how minimal electronic dance music can evolve and it puts several other "artists" who love to write amateurishly simplistic loops with their 303 plug-ins to shame. Digitalism are one to watch, they are a duo bent on providing the groove, the underlying soundtrack to your evening. Simply put, these guys easily provoke inadvertent, spontaneous movement in any human subject who hears their work. This is a quirky, yet slyly humorous release. Listen to their track "Digitalism in Cairo" to get a better idea of what I mean.

That I've not crossed these fellow's path before is surprising as they are right on the cusp between what the Mikrolux label and the supremely masterful Sender Records are exploring deeper with every catalogue number they put out. A most promising debut.

PETER MARKS