Sweet Talks
The Kusum Beat
(Soundway)
The Soundway label is renowned for its first-rate compilations of rare African music from the 1970s, but this Sweet Talks release offers something slightly different. Instead of a careful selection of key tracks from the 10-piece Ghanaian ensemble, The Kusum Beat is a straight reissue of the band’s second album. Cut in 1974 and never released in the West, it’s a lost classic that deftly mixes traditional rhythms with heavy funk, highlife and Afrobeat. The songs overflow with churning grooves, bright vocal melodies and infectious horns and organ. Throughout, Sweet Talks strike an ideal balance between taut songwriting and loose-limbed performance, tapping into a spontaneous energy without ever devolving into jamming. The only complaint is that The Kusum Beat clocks in at less than 30 minutes. Its addictive sound will leave most listeners greedy for more.
—Jeff Jackson
Delorean
Subiza
(True Panther Sounds)
Hailing from the Basque town of Zarautz, alternative dance band Delorean takes direct inspiration from such Mediterranean hotspots as Ibiza. Known for its late-night club parties and eclectic DJs, the group attempts to reproduce those elements on its latest release. According to the band, “The lyrics talk about love and joy as a feeling so strong that it distorts memory. If the music sounds uplifting, it’s because it aspires to be something that intense and crucial.” In order to create such euphoric feelings, amalgams of sounds are incorporated into a constantly swirling mix. Synthesizers percolate with rippling notes, while drum beats progress without dominating the bottom end. Frequently, voices echo on top of each other, giving songs a chant-like quality. Perfect music for a laid-back summer evening, or Bacchus-inspired dancing on the beach.
—Michael Cimaomo
LCD Soundsystem
This Is Happening
(Virgin)
LCD Soundsystem’s third album finds James Murphy and company swerving into darker emotional terrain. The focus on insecurity and troubled relationships gives the new songs a frayed urgency that’s refreshing. Otherwise, This Is Happening still leans heavily on the band’s magpie ability to recontextualize bits of rock’s past over pulsing electronic rhythms. There are direct nods to Bowie and Iggy Pop, along with echoes of Gary Numan and Blur. The album’s first half expertly moves between the surging dance-floor workout “One Touch,” cheeky sing-along “Drunk Girls,” and bruised heart-on-sleeve anthem “All I Want.” The second half stumbles with the tepid record company tirade “You Wanted A Hit” and dull ballad “Somebody’s Calling Me” before concluding with the sublime “Home.” The song serves as a sort of summation, capturing the vibe of a late night filled with too many regrets but spiked with a glimmer of solace.
—Jeff Jackson
