Four years ago with the release of their first album,† (CROSS), Justice became the second coming of techno music (kind of ironic given the whole “cross” motif). The boys, Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay, created a new angry, grungy strain of Techno; a cacophonous sans-disco sound that was so necessary in those post-Daft Punk days. They tore down all of the fallacies and pretenses that veil techno music by not hiding behind the bulky costumes and elaborate stage set-ups most of their peers use.
Fast forward to the year 2011. The age of “fubstep”. Where the Skrillex’s and Guetta’s rule and even Britney Spears is hopping on the bassy, distorted bandwagon. What does the group that created this monster do? They reinvent themselves.
Any listeners dying to hear D.A.N.C.E. Redux or DVNO Part 2 or even Phantom the 3rd should turn and leave now to save yourselves any disappointment. Most of the sexy, snarling appeal of their first album, † (CROSS), has been stripped away and replaced by campy, instrument-based, spacey, prog dad rock vibes.
The album, Audio, Video, Disco sees Auge and de Rosnay evolve their already prominent 1970’s sound from hedonistic disco to progressive arena rock, an audacious homage to Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Queen and the like.
“Horsepower” and “Civilization” open the album on a swashbuckling powersurge, before “Ohio” and “On’n’On” take center stage with their dreamy, melodic techno-Gospel sound, while “Newlands” and “Parade” call on more specific rock aspirations (AC/DC and Queen. respectively.) Songs like “Canon” and the namesake, “Audio, Video, Disco” refreshingly reference “Cross”-era Justice, with pounding bass, heavy synth layers and retro keyboards at the fuzzy forefront. Its not a club album because its not supposed to be, its an unsolicited, adventurous push into unclaimed territory. You might not fall in love with AVD as fast as you did with † (CROSS), but if you really open your ears and heart you might fall harder.
Buy the album on iTunes.
Friday, May 18, 3:24 pm
