Album Review: Blondes – Business/Pleasure – Lover/Hater

Blondes
Business/Pleasure – Lover/Hater
MEROK/RVNG INTL

With Blonde’s latest release you will find a rather bland set of chilled out Electronica tunes that barely get a passing grade. The music does not come across all that evolved from the early ‘90s sound of Electro bands/artists like  Orb, Autechre or Massive Attack (not to discount their talents in any way). Things start getting interesting on disc two, Lover/Hater. In this set of remixes the first five cuts are amazing; notably “Hater (SFV Acid’s Encino Oaks Remix)” and “Pleasure (Andy Stott Remix)” both are great tracks deeply layered with interesting beats and unexpected twists along the way. Unfortunately after track five things get stagnant once again with weak arrangements that shouldn’t have made the final cut. I’d love to love this double release, but nothing really stands out as progressive or original. Most of this material sound like it’s been done before. The band should consider digging deeper musically than strictly depending on sample programs to define who they are as a musical act.

– Andre Skinner (Twitter @andreskinner)