Electropop seems to be a big deal this year, and this debut from the Filthy Dukes is stuffed with brilliant examples, but unlike many electro-wanabees they also, importantly, have the tunes. They do not disappoint (despite the grumpy NME review).
Beginning with the hypnotic This Rhythm, a healthy dollop of 80's inspiration is clear. Elevator and the joyous Messages are pop tracks that Erasure might wish that they'd written - they make it impossible to sit still; sit even.
Less manic but equally infectious are Poison The Ivy and Nonsense In The Dark, as well as Light Skips Cross Heart. Instrumental tracks are well represented, my absolute fave being the hugely danceable Twenty Six Hundred, just pipping Better Stop to the post. Also in the non-vocal category is Cul-De-Sac, which true to it's name goes absolutely nowhere, but is pleasant nonetheless.
The club hit Tupac Robot Club Rock is the sure fire party record, and like most of the album it pretty much forces you to dance like it's 1985 i.e. with a fair bit of attempted body popping (no? just me then).
This album has the bass, the beats, a surprising level of depth and strong tunes, not to mention the required amount of widdly-widdly keyboard jiggery-pokery. In short it's a big old slice of electropop heaven and I give it full marks.