|
 |
ColderHeat Modular/UMG At first listen, I found this record disappointing. All the songs had pretty much the same steady tempo, and they all sounded similar. However, from the announcement in the opening track, Wrong Baby, that "Pretending is not an option," there was also something undeniably sexy about it. Each listen seduced me more and more and eventually I was trapped in the spell. When the subtleties of each groove emerge you can't help but get sucked in: but it's a place you want to be. There's something infectious about the unique sounds by Marc Nguyen Tan, the French ex-graphic designer solely responsible for Colder. The songs draw you in due to their texture, rather than melody or structure. He builds grooves with sharp drum loops and adds a certain sensuality with layers of moody electro colour and deep brooding noise. Cut from the same cloth as his brilliant 2004 debut, 'Again', 'Heat' maintains the Colder sound but infuses it with a slightly darker edge. 'Heat' is a definite night-time record with an inherent sense of danger. Downtown follows a stumbling drunk through the darkened city, while To The Music is about a drugged-up chick dancing in a club. The vocals are delivered in a manner so detached that they're almost robotic. In the context of Colder this isn't just for style's sake (unlike many of the "ironically detached" groups currently saturating radio), but a vital ingredient. It's not exactly profound; it's just so cool that it doesn't matter.  |
|
The latest issue available now!     |
All content copyright dB Magazine