temposhark - its better to have loved
new limited release (2000 - get running to the shops now) from those glammed up nu-electro popkids on the block. whereas their previous 2 singles were aimed mainly at the dance movers and shakers, this time around they put away the drum machines and let the darker side of their electronically enhanced ambience ebb and flow while diaments vocals gently caress the delicate nervous system. also involved across the 4 tracks are several names that prove that others are taking the temposhark groove to their heart. first up - guy sigsworth, madonna/bjork and an excellent triphop/ambient/d-n-b unreleased album he produced by 3rdcore, manipulates and teases the sounds of the lead track into a glorious final form. headphones are a must to get the most out of the bleeps, backwards noises, rinky-dink pulsations and cinematic synthetic strings that make up the rather fine aural textures. a perfect soundtrack for late nights and broken hearts. when compared to the original that is dropped onto the end of the ep, it becomes apparent that while temposhark have skills, their songs shine far brighter when given the full (and well deserved) studio polish.
more please.
second track, 'not that big', ups the tempo somewhat having been remixed by metronomy, but despite this, the song retains a sound like we have been timewarped back to 1984 all over again, human league synth minimalism and an appearance by imogen heap adding more girl-boy interplay to the 10cc styed layered vocals dominate throughout this seedy stiletto'd homage to all things 80's electro.
to fill the package is an extra mix by french electronic knob twiddler, who does his stripped down thing for the bands previous single, 'invisible ink', drawing out the melody and emotional desperation even more than the excellent original. avril has treated the song with empathy, and not dropped anything too superfluous or intrusive into the mix, phew.
three cracking singles that recall moments of depeche mode, pet shop boys, brian eno, soft cell and other such heroes of the single note synth pop era, all of which makes me look forward to the album which is due early 2006.
patience is a virtue.