SPEKTRUM - FUN AT THE GYMKHANA CLUB / DEATH AT THE GYMKHANA CLUB "if only Spektrum could exercise a little more quality control and taste next time round, this could be a band truly worth caring about. " |
review by Mike Bond | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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STOP/START RECORDS
TRACKLISTING FUN AT THE GYMKHANA CLUB May Day Horny Pony Moody Feels Good Don't Be Shy Cedar (The Heat Lodge) Release The Sugar Sugar Bowl The Bones Cut Me Off (I Just Start Again) Ridley Road Fit Together Oh Build An Army Sp-Sp-Sp-Spektrum The Mirror Man DEATH AT THE GYMKHANA CLUB May Day (Dj T Remix) Hony Pony (Greg Wilson Rmx) Moody Feels Good (Chrome Hoof Remix) Moody Feels Good (Disjokke Remix) Dont Be Shy (Tom Neville Remix) Cedar (Yamwho? Remix) Sugar Bowl (Marcas Lancas Remix) The Bones (Flash Atkins Remix) Cut Me Off (Crazy P Remix) Fit Together (Cosmo Remix) Oh Build An Army (Snax Remix) The Mirror Man (Mock & Toof Remix) Sugar Bowl (Mish Mash Remix) The Mirror Man (New Young Pony Club) Sounding like a more ironic or comedic take on the electropop cool of Goldfrapp or Ladytron, Spektrum are a UK outfit dealing in offbeat pop.
A re-release of their second record FUN AT THE GYMKHANA. Spektrum are on decent enough form here, even if their offbeat shctik and attention grabbing antics can grate at times. Opener MAY DAY is one such example, as overbearing vocal gymnastics loom uncomfortably over the deep bass rumbles and electronic beats, Lola Olafisoye's arch camp vocals pitched somewhere between Grace Jones and Amy Winehouse. HORNY PONY is another song in the same vein, arresting and certainly individualistic, but still with the tendency to be more than a little annoying and grating.
The more subdued lounge core of MOODY FEELS GOOD is a more enjoyable entry, slinky jazz moves and neo funk guitar manoeuvres dancing beneath the Earth Kitt like vocal croons. CEDAR (AT THE HEAT LODGE) takes equal cues from trance and disco, Spektrum finally arriving at a sound that reveals their full potential; dialling back on the arch ironic asides and instead concentrating on delivering devastating pop.
Spektrum constantly veer between pastiche and panache on FUN AT THE GYMKHANA, this a record that's infinitely better when allowed to revel in the purer pleasures of pop; the annoyingly false wackiness of songs like SUGABOWL and CUT ME OFF ( I JUST START AGAIN) ultimately unappealing Peaches impersonations that devalue the album as a whole.
Fortunately, with material as great as FIT TOGETHER and RIDLEY ROAD, FUN AT THE GYMKHANA has just about its fair share of songs to recommend it, although not nearly enough to wholeheartedly endorse. FUN AT THE GYMKHANA is an times frustrating, at times annoying and at times sublime record; if only Spektrum could exercise a little more quality control and taste next time round, this could be a band truly worth caring about.
BIOGRAPHY
UK band Spektrum are about to re-release their fantastic second album ‘Fun At The Gymkhana Club’ with a new remix album addition 'Death At The Gymkhana Club' as a double CD and hitter this October, which is to feature exciting new remixes by the globe's finest, such as DJ T, Crazy P, New Young Pony Club, Snax, Cosmo, Greg Wilson, Tom Neville, Mish Mash and Yamwho?. This is to be followed by the superb 'Sugar Bowl' as a single in November, with a saucy new video. Spektrum already have one smash debut album ‘Enter The Spektrum’ released on Germany’s acclaimed Playhouse imprint already tucked under their belt - which saw the birth of globally-renowned singles ‘Breaker’, ‘Freakbox’ and ‘Kinda New’ - Spektrum's recent album ‘Fun at The Gymkhana Club’ features singles ‘Horny Pony’, ‘May Day’ and blistering dance floor wobbler, ‘Don’t Be Shy’. ‘Fun At...’ exudes the playful elements of Spektrum’s multifaceted personality. As well as boasting a tongue-in-cheek title - horseplay and cheeky hi-jinks taking place within the confines of the Pony Club establishment - the ‘Gymkhana Club’ is also a term that refers to the world of colonialism. This new album from Spektrum oozes with alternative undercurrents - they have stormed the Club and messed up all the codes. And it’s up to you to decipher them. While most live bands of the last two years have aimed to recreate the post- punk sound of the late 70s/early 80s era, Spektrum are set on creating a new, innovative, sound. Influences from funk, punk and electro are key, but Spektrum never try to mimic, but rather expand and develop. With ardent fans such as Groove Armada through to Peaches, in the live arena Spektrum nudge LCD Sound System and the New Young Pony Club into the shadows - Spektrum are one of the hottest live dance acts the world has to offer, the headlining show at any event you have been fortunate enough to have caught them at. A contemporary fusion of ESG, Grace Jones and the Slits, Spektrum have performed all over the world, from rocking sweaty, hedonistic dancefloors across the UK through to headlining on main stages in New Zealand. Once you see this band live you will never forget them. Spektrum are Lola Olafisoye, Gabriel Olegavich, Isaac Tucker and Teia Williams. Time to Start Making Sense.
LINKS
Review date: November 2007 Bookmark And social NetworksBookmark, Share Or Promote This Link:http://www.ukmusicsearch.co.uk/reviews/spektrum-fun-at-gymkhana-club.html...
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