Recorded with the 3-D depth of analogue but there's less geek and more funk; more Mod than Modular in the new album's tailored, minimalist design. Stephen Mallinder's vocals are a surreal joy, smeared with effects and electronics as they change, chant and shift around the jump-cut lyrics. The opening trio of lpha Omega', tupid' (Mallinder in a new mutant funk-falsetto) and clockwork' sets up White Glue with the crisp crack and thud of sequenced rhythms and lush synthesizers. Dirty' slams into a compelling funk beat with a bristling guitar riff courtesy of Julie Campbell (LoneLady). Mallinder delivers one of the most memorable vocals of his career - venting, sliding and punching through the layers of noise with real urgency and bile. He employs his voice-instrument to more measured effect on top' but it's no less hypnotic - a feverish guilt-mantra of out-of-control consumerism. The white-light-techno-rush, triggered synths and chopped-up, multi-layered vocals of Real Life' is followed by Days' which slowly loops in and then flicks off the safety catch with heavy bass and moody synth lines. Superset' is a late highlight as the band coax the rhythm into life before hitting hard with a lovely, deep groove. Colliding' is the spacey Krautrock closer, a beautiful, nuanced semi-instrumental song which exits with dreamy, abstract vocoder sounds and ambient synths.
