If you have never heard of this London based dance troupe, then a revisit to the incredible Justice vs. Simian collaboration 'We Are Your Friends' or their single from 2009 'Audacity of Huge' will ring a bell for any dance music follower. Since 2007 James Ford and Jas Shaw have been operating under the full name Simian Mobile Disco, mixing with artists as varied as Beth Ditto to The Chemical Brothers, and releasing electronica with modest success.
Their last offering 'Temporary Pleasure' was an album that the duo crammed with what they hoped to be potential hits. Each track was quick, catchy, and seemed to nag for recognition from the summer charts. Despite achieving moderate success commercially, it wasn't received very well by critics, or indeed so well by some fans. The electronica twosome may arguably have had raised eye brows at this out come, so it might put things in to perspective then to realise that this follow up has been released a mere sixteen months later. In contrast to its predecessor, 'Delicacies' weighs in at over 1 hour and 10 minutes long, nearly 20 minutes longer than 'Temporary Pleasure' despite that they both include 10 songs each.
The song writing reforms don't end their either. Despite a reputation for being one of the most hooked up bands in their genre, there is not a guest vocalist to be heard on the new album. It is in fact completely void of vocals all together! A huge change in direction from any album or single they have previously released before. All in all this new offering can be viewed as a brave new leap in to unchartered territory. The sing along choruses and cunningly placed hooks have been thrown out the window, and what's in their place you should ask? An LP that is track after track of thumping base lines and quirky spirals of looping synths that are unlike anything else you're likely to hear from an electronica album this year. SMD are offering a delicacy so tasty that producers up and down the country will want to sample a bit of.
Each track comes gift rapped with every necessary component, some perhaps composed to perfection. The Bass is pounding and plentiful while the synth rhythms come in and out with varying affect from track to track. It is after all these synth loops that do the job of complementing each bass beat, while taking listeners by the scruff of the neck and demanding appeasement from any worshiping raver. What is to be admired most here though is just how impacting the synth lines are. After only a couple of listens, you wonder why tracks like 'Aspic' 'Casu Marzu' and 'Thousand Year Egg' aren't being played in clubs up and down the country as the harmony between the base and synth work here is just mesmerising. Meanwhile, its songs like 'Nerve Salad' that add a real touch of class to the production table with synths crafted to chime through every corner of your bedroom with a texture that is magnetic.
In to the second half of the album and 'Hakarl' hits you with a more house/ electro edge. 'Sweetbread' comes in with a more chilled out vibe that feels like the album might be coming to a fluid close, not yet though, as it's at half way through where the beat brakes down and signal the coming of classic sounding electro drum and synth to finally kick in and relieve us of the built up tension. The closing track ends on a more playful, housey vibe that is left feeling timidly conventional compared to the climax of quirkiness that preceded it.
All in all it's an album that stays consistent in tempo but shows us SMD's true colours with the hugely varying and ingenious synth loops. It a massive step in to the unknown compared to their previous style. Radio one day time chart shows might not want to have much to do with it, but it's the DJs of sweat boxes up and down the country that live for the energy of the mid night rave who will revel in this, and its a transition that we are sure SMD will be proud to have made.
Stereoboard Album Rating: 8/10
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The song writing reforms don't end their either. Despite a reputation for being one of the most hooked up bands in their genre, there is not a guest vocalist to be heard on the new album. It is in fact completely void of vocals all together! A huge change in direction from any album or single they have previously released before. All in all this new offering can be viewed as a brave new leap in to unchartered territory. The sing along choruses and cunningly placed hooks have been thrown out the window, and what's in their place you should ask? An LP that is track after track of thumping base lines and quirky spirals of looping synths that are unlike anything else you're likely to hear from an electronica album this year. SMD are offering a delicacy so tasty that producers up and down the country will want to sample a bit of. 
