Simian Mobile Disco

On last year's criminally underappreciated Unpatterns LP, Simian Mobile Disco finally broke the 16-bit code, delivering a long-form, skeletal, techno think piece that felt just as beefy as it did heady. Bringing this M.O. on the road, the duo's live show brought together both dance floor enthusiasts and headphone contemplators, using tracks from all four of their vastly diverse albums as elements in a dynamic-fuelled DJ set. Capturing a night in Philadelphia, Live works better as a 45-minute mix than a time capsule. It's no secret that Simian Mobile Disco have become lean producers, as no single moment on this 15-track document feels bloated or out-of-place. Created live and off-the-floor, the duo take their share of liberties, especially with their earlier material, stripping tracks like "Hustler" and "Cruel Intentions" of their blocky origins, leaving the listener with icy, stripped-down restorations. Although Simian Mobile Disco have the ability to give each track its own distinct personality, Live is a mere curiosity for even the most refined technocrats.