wed 04/12/2024

CD: AlunaGeorge - Body Music | reviews, news & interviews

CD: AlunaGeorge - Body Music

CD: AlunaGeorge - Body Music

Electropop duo's debut might not match the greatness of the singles, but still shows promise

Distorted electronic effects and sensual vocals: AlunaGeorge's 'Body Music'

AlunaGeorge deserve to be lauded as one of this year’s great singles bands solely on the strength of “Attracting Flies” and “White Noise”, their collaboration with electro outfit Disclosure. The London duo - featuring the purring vocals of Aluna Francis and George Reid’s sassy production - have been gaining attention in all the right places over the past 12 months, which gives their delayed debut a lot to live up to.

That the big, distorted hook and kiss-off chorus of "...Flies", so perfect in its subtlety, are the catchiest things on Body Music is a little misleading. It means that the first couple of listens are burdened with the wait for something similar to happen. Although Reid knows how to write a hook - try the album’s other earworm, “Just A Touch”, and the kaleidoscopic dubstep of “You Know You Like It” for further examples - his primary concern is not with pop music or mainstream R&B but with using distorted electronic effects and the sensual vocals of Francis to create something far more atmospheric - and just a little seedy.

That the singles are the strongest tracks on the album is either incredibly frustrating, given that the original version of “You Know You Like It” dates back to 2011; or testament to just how good those songs are. Elsewhere, “Kaleidoscope Love” shimmers around some particularly naff lyrics comparing a relationship to “chemical equations”, and Francis sounds sugar sweet against the grimier production and booming bass drum on “Diver”. But the sheer amount of technical manipulation, leading into what is actually a fairly conventional chorus, on “Lost and Found” will be divisive - even from one listen to the next - and despite the glitch-hop between-verses breakdown, “Best Be Believing” ultimately descends into something far more syrupy and generic with the addition of a gospel style chorus. But with the exception of the musically bland and lyrically awful “Superstar”, even at their weakest AlunaGeorge always sound genuinely keen to try something new - and at their best, they’re among the greatest at it.

Watch the new video for "You Know You Like It" below


That the singles are the strongest tracks on the album is incredibly frustrating

rating

Editor Rating: 
3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

Share this article

Add comment

The future of Arts Journalism

 

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters