Entertainment

Been (yet another) really busy couple of weeks, and little time to keep up with all the things that bring one joy. I seem to be amassing quite a backlog of blog worthy tidbits (everything from the Age of Stupid release, to the Guardian's analysis of measures of musical success - more on both later). Thankfully quite a bit of new music has also found its way onto my pod ...

I've been anticipating new albums from both Fischerspooner and Röyksopp for ages now. Its a quandry when you get a double hit of fresh music at once. It only took one listen of each for the dominant album to become apparent.

Hands down my scrobbles have gone to Entertainment by Fischerspooner. I found their last album - Odyssey - to be highly underrated. So fresh and minimal, such clean, perfect electropop. But with an edge of sophistication and experimentation clearly lacking from the contemporaries that beat them to the chart positions. 

Where some may have initially criticised the group as an indulgence in theatre-turned-pop, or flavour of the month electroclash, Fischerspooner have demonstrated their resilience. Having split from their major label I wondered if we would see more of them - and thankfully they return with an album that is instantly delicious and difficult to switch off.

Entertainment follows on where their last effort left off. Its a logical progression, but one that builds on their songwriting craft. Echoes of early Depeche Mode ("In A Modern World") and OMD ("To The Moon") give a nostalgic edge to the work, but the sublime, crisp production keeps it firmly grounded in the now. Perfect pop like previous Kitsuné single "The Best Revenge" only affirms their pop sensibility, while the pseudo-shoegazer tones of "We Are Electric" demonstrate that they continue to push the boundaries of the niche.

There are hints of recycled themes here (including what I am convinced is the slowed down riff from "Emerge" in "Money Can't Dance") and politics disguised within the musings of Casey Spooner. And though his vocals are at times veiled in production the entire package works tirelessly. 

As for Röyksopp's Junior - an initial disappointment that will stay on the shelf for awhile longer I'm afraid.