Simian Mobile Disco

When reviewing an album of dance-oriented electronic music, critics often compare the release either favourably or contrastingly to "a collection of singles." Delicacies (approximately the third full-length from James Ellis Ford and James Anthony Shaw under the Simian Mobile Disco moniker) is proof that such a collection can work. Following the likes of Aphex Twin's Chosen Lords (an assortment of highlights from his Analord EP series), much of Delicacies was culled from a series of singles originally released on the titular label. However, the London, UK duo's aesthetic determination tightly holds the record together through their sprawling, minimal techno explorations. The average track length is almost nine minutes, yet their keen sense of pacing keeps the four-to-the-floor beats vibrant, introducing just the right gurgles, skitters, acidic melody and layer upon layer of retro effects while never becoming cluttered. Oddly, Delicacies holds together much better as an album of vision than their bloated indie-dance sophomore mistake, Temporary Pleasure. With this release, Simian Mobile Disco have truly arrived.