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Outpost Transmission
[Circus]
Forerunners, pioneers or veterans, 808 State has now been offering us a clever mix of pop and electronic for more than ten years. Maybe their Manchester roots gave them this gift or maybe it is just the chance of meeting and collaborating with Bernard Sumner, Björk or Michael Doughty of Soul Coughing, but until now, Graham Massey, Andrew Barker and Darren Partington appeared as sorcerers as each and every one of their production left a mark and inspired the following generations. But this time, after five years of silence, their come back seems more difficult. There's nothing to say about the inmost quality of the album, "Outpost Transmission" offers 70 faithful minutes of what has made their success until now, but the magic has gone. Yet three interesting guest vocals (Simon Lord of Simian, Guy Garvey of Elbow and Dwayne and Larry Love of Alabama 3) try to bring consistence to the album, but without much success. More lounge than dance, quieter than pop, 808 State doesn't seem inspired, and even if we can content ourselves with it after these long waiting years, even if several listenings are necessary to glimpse the depth of "Outpost Transmission", we hope this is just a transition album and that the band quickly comes back to a style they once invented and where they were the best at until then.
Christophe Labussière |
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