Simian Mobile Disco - A Form Of Change EP (Witchita Recordings)

In May, Simian Mobile Disco released their fourth LP, Unpatterns, a collection of long-form techno that picked up where the stripped down, epochal synth sound of 2010’s Delicacies left off. This new A Form Of Change EP collects four tracks from the same recording session as SMD’s Unpatterns that, for one reason or another, didn’t quite fit with the flow of the album order. The EP is loaded with a wide array of subtle nuances from the duo, each song exceeding five minutes in length. Once again the band is heard plowing the furrow of manipulating subtle modifications to machine generated patterns, allowing parts to drift and shift, and new forms to be teased out. Perhaps it’s a foreshadowing into the new, sexier direction they have chosen for their sound. Total dance floor warmers here, and, undeniably, another sterling example of Simian Mobile Disco’s restless creativity, and their yen for refining and redefining the parameters of their own musical landscape with almost laser-like precision. Dig in.

Ewan Pearson - “Unpatterns was such a great album - very nice to have some more of it! ‘A Form of Change’ is the one for me here.”
Danny Howells - “Superb as always … love!”
Will Saul - “What a lush EP. I’ll play this to death.”
Lindstrøm - “Sounds great!”
Ashley Beedle - “A wicked EP with ‘Everyday’ being the fave. Big support.”
Justin Robertson - “Highest caliber technoid lushness from the masters. I’ve been caning ‘Breaking Time.’”
Giom - “Brilliant. I love these.”
Alland Byallo - “‘Everyday’ is quite nice. I’ve liked these guys since they were just Simian. They’re defintely onto something good.”
Tom Findlay (Groove Armada) - “‘Breaking Time’ is sick.”
Sleazy McQueen - “This is big.”
Nick Chacona - “Five stars … ‘Unfixed’ is especially a masterpiece.”
Chris Fortier - “‘Everyday’ has been huge for me.”
James Curd (Greenskeepers) - “I love Simian Mobile Disco!”
Jim Stanton (Horse Meat Disco) - “Just lovely, deep, delicious … playing!”
Erik Rug - “I really like ‘Breaking Time’ and ‘Everyday’ … a really great release.”
Cosmo Vitelli - “Great. ‘Unfixed’ is my fave.”
Chrissy Murderbot - “‘Breaking Time’ is huge!”
Tal M. Klein - “Great release. Very tight production, as expected. I’ll be having a lot of fun with this!”
Tim Sweeney (Beats In Space) - “Simian Mobile Disco tracks are always refreshing.”
Joshua Ferguson (Dialogue Inc.) - “In the typically ‘similar but different’ way that SMD manage to push their sound, this is still undeniably work from James x 2. A brilliant follow up to Unpatterns and a solid techno workout from start to finish.”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.

Sébastien Tellier - Cochon Ville (Record Makers)

Purveyor of tongue-in-cheek synth sleaze Sébastien Tellier’s new album My God Is Blue has won some notable proselytes, each bringing their personalities to the ever-expanding L’Alliance Bleue (The Blue Alliance) with their remixes of the hypnotic-disco bliss that is the single “Cochon Ville.” In Sébastien’s mind, Cochon Ville is a bastion within L’Alliance Bleue compound where the animal inside man can “express itself freely”, and if his musical representation as well as those of his new inductees are any indication it’s the place to be. “Cochon Ville” is in many ways typical of his work of recent times, fusing elements of squidgy electrofunk, fuzzy rock, and heady synth-pop with his notorious half-sung, half-spoken vocals. There’s a strong remix package attached as Dimitri From Paris adds extra disco beef on his cowbell-laden effort, managing to push the funk factor even further. Our favorite Parisian pushes all things disco to their limit and holds it all together with smooth bass slaps wandering along the lows. Ex-Aeroplane type The Magician offers a Bobby O-goes-acid house interpretation that borders on a disco meets new-wave space jam, complete with Depeche-Mode era bass licks and pointed CZ-101-esque synth coos. Brodinski's remix offers a slinky tech-house groove that suddenly turns into an arms-raised electro stomper half way through. It aims to transport the dance floor straight to day three at an Ibiza festival, tropical drums ringing behind walls of saturated bass arranged with that clenched-teeth rave ready know-how his name guarantees. Chicago disco-rock outfit Hey Champ turn in a superbly breezy synth-funk treatment as well, exposing their love of all things Giorgio Moroder and Trevor Horn. A high quality package for dancehall denizens!

diskJokke - “Great remixes by Dimitri, Magician and Hey Champ!”
Dr. Dunks (Rub-n-Tug / Still Going) - “Nice!”
Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - “Lovely. Sebastian is so groovy!”
Leo Zero - “The Dimitri From Paris remix is a monster.”
Flash Atkins (Paper Recordings) - “Excellent, with Dimitri From Paris the pick of the bunch!”
Beg to Differ - “The Hey Champ remix is awesome.”
Stereo 77 - “This collection is so good, it is impossible to pick a favorite. These jams should massacre any dance floor.”
Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) - “The original is what Cerrone should be making now. All the mixes are good, though The Magician and Dimitri From Paris mixes are my favorites.”
I-Robots (Opilec Music) - “Exactly the sound I remember in the Italian clubs in the 80s … good work!”
Bruce Tantum (Time Out NY) - “Fun! I’m digging all of them, but I’m REALLY enjoying the Hey Champ remix. It’s like I’m flashing back to my early-’80s electro-pop days!”
DJ Emskee (WBAI, NYC) - “Solid dance-a-fied bangers right here! The various of mixes are right on point.”
Tony D’Onghia (Radio Koper-Capodistria) - “Great stuff! The classy original is almost unbeatable but Dimitri From Paris and The Magician complement it well. Special mention for the electro-pop flavoured Hey Champ remix.”

Also supported by Erol Alkan, Sleazy McQueen, Jay West, ALTZ, Robin Lee (Faze Action), DJ Rocca (Ajello), Nacho Marco, Tal M. Klein, Minus 8, Irregular Disco Workers, Nico De Ceglia, Bill Brewster, Fort Knox Five, Recloose, Bonar Bradberry, Ray Mang, Horse Meat Disco, and Ben Mono.

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.

Simian Mobile Disco - Seraphim / Cerulean (Witchita Recordings)

Presenting “Seraphim,” the latest single from Simian Mobile Disco. The cut is taken from their upcoming album Unpatterns which is set to be released on Witchita Recordings on May 15th. On the new album, and on this single, the duo opt for abstracted voices in the place of big name guests, woven into the fabric of the synthetic sound. This record is entirely confident, and brings together all their influences in the pursuit of pure sonic pleasure. In a weird way it brings back the “prog-psychedelic” feel of those very first Simian songs, though with all the knowledge of the dance-floor they’ve gained in the SMD years. “Seraphim” is a beautiful and hypnotic mid-tempo crawl of a track, filled with soaring keys, an expressive vocal motif, and a healthy dose of loopy acid for the club crowd. Extended, album, and radio versions are all present.  “Seraphim” is backed here by “Cerulean,” another track from the impending album. The tempo is raised a tad as is the floor-appeal, with swirling pads and melodic staccato synth blips playing over a pulsating rhythm track. These two tunes make for an enticing preview of what Simian Mobile Disco have in store for the summer … grab hold.

Tom Findlay (Groove Armada) - “I think this is brilliant. It’s the best stuff I’ve ever heard from Simian Mobile Disco and that’s saying something. Love it.”
Nick Warren - “Wonderful release from Simian Mobile Disco, all are very solid.”
Aeroplane - “Love the extended version! Slow BPM always…”
Tim Sweeney (Beats In Space) - “Great release. Will definitely be playing on the radio show.”
Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) - “Solid EP. I like the laid back vibe of the original mix of ‘Seraphim,’ but it’s the wandering melody of ‘Cerulean’ that ultimately won me over.”
DJ Rocca (Ajello) - “Great, great stuff…all the tracks are for me!”
DJ Schwa (Shades Of Gray) - “‘Seraphim’ is awesome. Loving the acid line. Really outstanding track!”
Ben Mono - “Excellent release, very unique as expected and the production is superb.”
Jon Freer (Hearing Is Believing) - “Storming return!”
Jochen Ditschler (Groove Magazine) - “Sweet like chocolate! A perfect track for any season-closing-party 2012.”

Also supported by Lovebirds, Pezzner, Danny Howells, diskJokke, Chris Fortier, Tiago, Kraak & Smaak, Makossa & Megablast, Motorcitysoul, Gavin Herlihy, Atnarko, OOFT!, Sleazy McQueen, Joshua Iz, Horse Meat Disco, and Johnwaynes.

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport