The Egg - Travelator (China)

I've always shuddered at the thought of "dance bands that can actually play live", but The Egg can be forgiven just about anything after their demented debut LP of last year, Albumen. This year's offering carries on from where they left off, but because of the their dance viewpoint they've moved with the times. As a result you get tracks like 'Number Cruncher'. Ever wondered how blunted melodies (from the big beat vibe) sound against an acid jazz style funk jam? 'Number Cruncher' has the answer.
Travelator has much more variation than its predecessor. Like the live drum & bass skank of 'Bunmela' and 'Getting Away With It', which vocally is a full-on Brian Eno homage. All of these experiments with different styles certainly work well on plastic. And I'd love to hear tracks like 'Bunmela' pounding away from a live stage in a club.

Other experiments don't work as well. 'Willow' is full of brilliant melodies, classic Egg-style melodies in fact (if there is such a thing already). But whether it works performing them with a mix of drum & bass and classic strings & woodwind is another matter entirely!

Perhaps the continual experimentation is also The Egg's downfall on this LP. Whereas Albumen had a heads down, "let's play live and tape it!" feel, Travelator sounds altogether more prepared and measured. But the mixture is great. Totally refreshing and summery. 8/10


This review also published in: DJ magazine