Review: Late of the Pier

The first time I listened to Late of the Pier, I wrote off the UK group as an obnoxious band of tardy wonks, late-arriving stragglers to the nü-rave movement–led by the already irrelevant Klaxons–that swept stages and speakers a while back but has since sputtered out. I argued with friends who touted the group’s “next big thing”-ness, and I played their debut, Fantasy Black Channel (Astralwerks), a few times through–volume up–in the GIANT offices in the hope of garnering at least a few “Turn that annoying shit off” from my fellow staffers. But all my negativity vanished as I watched the group open for Soulwax at Irving Plaza this past CMJ. What I saw onstage was a supersonic blast of precisely technical musicianship, youthful goofiness and genuine enthusiasm for the opportunity to share their well-honed craft with an eager audience. A times the spectacle was so purely entertaining that I turned to my girlfriend with a huge smile on my face only to see a similar cheese pasted across her own mug. Throughout the set, I danced hard. Since then, I’ve revisited the record, and though I still hold that the production weighs too heavily on distracting, blinky noise motifs (a recurring element that is mixed in a palatable, more subtle manner live), the songs herein are remarkable, catchy and energetic–musically wise way beyond their years without sacrificing juvenile charms. Fantasy Black Channel is a progressive dance record that knows its roots–pop, new wave, hard electro, classic rock–enough to step beyond the pitfalls of throwback emulation and isn’t afraid to be downright silly at times. Check out the song offered below, catch these guys live if you get the chance, and please, buy more rock music.

Focker – Late of the Pier