Live: Simian Mobile Disco @ Sankeys

Simian Mobile Disco
Sankeys
10^th February 2011
4 stars

Bugged Out! has been at the cutting edge of electro since its conception at  Sankeys in 1994. However, the drought of bodies at the door suggested that the excitement surrounding electro-house at the end of the last decade had finally subsided. Luckily, the night left a convincing impression of where the future of this sub-genre may lie.

James Holroyd opened in the main room with a set that imposed a nonchalant feel onto the energy of electro-house with the use of saxophone samples and percussion, resulting in an effective introduction to the night. This kept the clubbers involved but still left enough leeway for the headliners to make an impact. When SMD took to the decks it was evident that the duo had abandoned the pop laden hooks of their first two albums in favour of the more low-key approach of their third, Delicacies. This marks an important transition, which has seen the pair move towards a concentration on the club scene and the effectiveness of their material on the dance floor over their previous, more universal success. The set retained its electro-house roots with the use of distorted and compressed bass lines but was notably more minimal and leant towards techno, suggesting that the duo have learned that less is more. However, throughout the set, the use of effects and laconic yet resonate vocal samples produced wide soundscapes which overlapped the more minimal elements and kept the set macroscopic.  Whereas in previous DJ sets, Simian Mobile Disco have often given the impression that they are primarily studio producers, it seems that they have now mastered the DJ booth as well.

The intimacy of the venue and the innovation of the DJs resulted in a highly successful night and documented the new direction in which Simian Mobile Disco and electro itself may be heading.

Mitchell Holmes