Team Doyobi - Digital Music Volume One (12" vinyl)

Well there was a time when both electronic musicians and people like Phil, who hated the bland monotony of most 4/4 dance music, used to produce (or stock) lots of, quite frankly, unlistenable electronica from across the globe in order to supposedly stamp out “rave mediocrity” with the sticky hob-nailed boot of digital terror. TD were Skam’s most notoriously difficult practitioners of teeth bending glitch and post-Autechre confuse-scapes.

Coming from Leeds didn’t help either as at the time only crumbly goths and psychedelic weirdos lived out here so the scene was incredibly underground, led by the visionary Vector promotions who once numbered our ex-man Mingus Rude amongst its members. Enough back story for now but after a long lay-off Alex and Chris have returned with a record that is not only quite fabulous but also alarmingly (hold yer horses) melodic and danceable!!

Throughout both its bulbous sides ‘Digital Music Volume One’ shapes-up as a beautifully constructed, sharp ‘n’ modern electro-funk record which, whilst full of experimental nous and ear-deceiving tendrils of ADD detail, is infused with fantastic strutting rhythms, playful cosmic energy, an intoxicating day-glo warmth, innumerable lush melodies, delightful acid-drenched glitches and proper deep funky grooves! It is much more inventive and futuristic than the somewhat sterile fan-appeasing new Squarepusher album and should have you insanely body-popping around the room with a huge happy smirk on your face.

If this fantastic mini album doesn’t completely put Skam back on the map then I'll be well sad. This is a genuine antidote to both the technically over-serious IDM past and all that minimal gubbins and post-house they have these days. An intelligent record you can really dance to without stroking your chin smugly, the tracks on here are even better than their crazed ‘Mod Truckin’ from years back. Welcome back boys, cannot wait for volume 2!! Oh, BTW you get eight full tracks on here for the price of a takeaway pizza! I’m sure going hungry tonight...