- The title ‘81 could easily refer to the year Soul Mekanik’s favourite music was written. In fact that’s not too far from the truth, as Danny Spencer and Kelvin Andrews have picked it out as a year when music was forward looking. Their own record isn’t quite as revolutionary as the electro pioneers of the time, but there’s no way it can be accused of standing still.
Updated for the present day with new production techniques, however, it presents an interesting contrast between ragged drum sounds and cool, calculated vocals. Sometimes the drum track is a bit too crowded, and threatens to get in the way of the many good riffs on tap, but the basic essence still shines through.
Some may find the funky house of ‘Wanna Get Wet’ a bit cheesy, but it’s the most immediate, dancefloor friendly track on the album. The cool funk of ‘634’ isn’t far behind though, an effortless groove that’s hard to shake off. In the same vein is the airy ‘Robots’, an expansive riff supplying the basis for a quality electro track.
‘Serobotik’ offers some sexy French vocalizing, while of the more song-based tracks ‘High On Hope Street’ is the pick. Sometimes the boys pull in a Daft Punk-esque moment, with 27/5/81 a semi-techno workout, or in the technology warning ‘Never Touch That Switch’ they loosely recall the Orbital of ‘In Sides’.
All of which makes for an interesting record of electro beats, light on its feet. You won’t necessarily go for all the tracks on here, but you can be sure something will rock the boat and leave you coming back for more.
Tracklist01 Intro (2:20)
02 Never Touch That Switch (4:12)
03 A34 (5:55)
04 Wanna Get Wet (5:09)
05 High On Hope Street (4:54)
06 27/5/81 (4:13)
07 Serobotik (3:27)
08 Go Upstairs (2:59)
09 Basement City (6:46)
10 Elektrik Elefant (4:30)
11 Robots (4:34)
12 Take Me Home (3:54)