CD | Gang Gang Dance | SAINT DYMPHNA

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Gang Gang Dance's Saint Dymphna - warp - inertia music
 
A pivotal part of the plot of the William Gibson's sci-fi novel Idoru was the fictional pop group Lo/Rez. No detail was ever given about what they sounded like but some I suspect it would have been like Gang Gang Dance's Saint Dymphna. Futuristic or space-y music in itself is nothing new, but the GGD's constantly changing sound is what makes them truly unique.

The most obvious comparisons would be Warp label mates Battles or Icelandic pop star Bjork, but both don't really give them justice. Their music is punctuated with polyrhythmic drumming, repetitive synthlines, jagged guitar that create a heavily modulated and distinct sound. 'Vacuum' sounds like My Bloody Valentine meets Vangelis circa the height of acid house, whereas 'Princes' features UK Grime artist Tinchy Stryder, creating a distorted space age reflection of hip hop .

The standout track on the album is 'House Jam', which has slowly grown to be one of my favourite songs of 2008. Lead singer Liz Bougatsos's lilting ethereal voice is accompanied by exquisite interceding synths and metronomic drums, creating the perfect future pop classic. -Winston