This duo of electronic producers, James Taylor and David ‘Brun’ Brown, have been stalwarts of the more minimal, yet firmly dancefloor focused, end of the tech-house spectrum for years.

However, it’s been a few years between releases for them and they’ve returned with a long player that has been earning them wider accolades than most of their previous works.
 
The main reason for that would probably be the more pop angle that this album takes and that ethos is evident right from the start, as the gentle piano intro and electrifying atmospherics of ‘Quiet Life’ give way to a breathy indie vocal.

That’s followed up by a straighter instrumental techno number, and the pattern is set for the rest of the album of poppy vocal track followed by more conventional tech-house. If you like both flavours you’ll be in heaven and if you like the electro-clash sound, but would like it a little more restrained, this is perfect for you.
 
However, it could be said that the vocal numbers are a little too poppy with fairly inane lyrics, haunting registers, and slightly annoying repetitiveness.

That means Swayzak fans of the past should approach with slight caution, but fans should also be aware that there are some real gritty, electric, proper tech-house and techno numbers on this album, particularly ‘Pukka Bumbles’ and ‘By The Rub Of Love’ respectively, that make it well worth checking out all the same.

Rating: 6.5/10

For comments on this review go to:
http://www.teknoscape.com.au/forums/showthread.php?p=1462463

Tracklist:
1. Quiet Life 
2. So Cheap 
3. No Sad Goodbyes 
4. Distress and Calling 
5. Smile and Receive 
6. Claktronic 
7. Silent Luv 
8. Pukka Bumbles 
9. By the Rub of Love 
10. They Return

This was a RTRFM Full Frequency album feature.

Label: Label: !K7/Inertia