DJANGO DJANGO – DJANGO DJANGO

Django Django’s debut album is a tour through many of pop’s greatest eccentricities of the last fifty years. However, rather than simply being revivalists, the British foursome have embraced new sounds, technology and ideas to create something as much a product of the new as of the old. The album’s introduction recalls art-rock geeks Battles with its chopped-up chanting and colourful soundscape. This quickly moves into Hail Bop which combines pulsing synths with ethereal singing to create a memorable tune that’s equal parts 80s and 60s. The following track Default unites digitised voices, dubstep bass and a guitar riff which The Kinks would have killed for to create one of the cleverest and catchiest pop tunes you’re likely to hear this year. The rest of the album traverses through carnival madness (Zumm Zumm), dirty rockabilly (Wor) and world-music-tinged electro-pop (Skies Over Cairo). This is all underpinned by the type of gorgeous vocal harmonies which made the music of The Beatles and The Beach Boys so special. The lyrics are quirky yet profound, too – take the psychedelic tale of love’s journey that is Love’s Dart, for instance. By drawing on the past whilst always looking forward – as well as never forgetting how to have fun – Django Django have pulled off a stunningly satisfying debut.

**** ½