Back to the future? Well, the car’s right …
Lead single ‘I Lust U’ is an icy, Kraftwerking duet between Rhys and up-and-coming Welsh singer Cate Le Bon in which ‘photos of the first-born’ go ‘for the highest fee’. ‘Luxury Pool’ finds former Pharcyde member Fatlip (last heard on the Chemical Brothers‘ ‘The Salmon Dance’) rapping the ballad of DeLorean, drawing parallels between big business and drug hustling. (DeLorean was acquitted of a cocaine smuggling charge due to federal entrapment in 1984.)There’s more lurid hip hop, featuring guest spots from cult smut-hop purveyor Spank Rock (the cocaine-tastic ‘Trick for Treat’) and Yo Majesty (’Sweat Shop’). Best of all, though, are the synthetic, soft pop confections fronted by Rhys. ‘I Told Her on Alderaan’ is a radio-friendly joy that out-Feelings the Feeling by some distance.With the right attack-dog radio plugger behind songs like ‘I Lust U’ or ‘Alderaan’, this record may end the year bracketed with the likes of Hercules and Love Affair - another fine, producerly, collaborative project. It’s too superbly engineered to be parked solely with those in the know.
Tags: brother, cate, parallels