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Album Review

Various Happy Robots
Botpop Vol.1 Happy Robots

Article written by James G - Sep 27, 2008

Happy Robots Botpop Volume 1 comp

‘Botpop’ is a 12-track compliation from the Happy Robots label, which aims to bring ‘blissful, breezy electronic pop to the masses’. And, speaking as a member of the masses, ‘blissful, breezy electronic pop’ has indeed been brought to me. From glorious opener ‘Cloudkick’ by Sweden’s The Bridal Shop, to the ‘electronica-by-numbers’ of Mike In Mono’s ‘Promare’, and all the way to the Madonna-esque tones of Elika with ‘Let Down’, there’s not a bad track on here. Which is saying something when it comes to compliations. But there are three tracks here that make this an essential purchase.

The first is ‘Ultra-Alliance’ by boy/girl duo Arthur and Martha. Imagine Ladytron crossed with Pink Military Stand Alone. Maybe it’s the nostalgic in me, but THIS is what being in a band is all about. Making stuff like this. A serious, echoey lyric about feelings. ‘Let’s all dance/ to my confession/ about this love/ divine obsession/ your heart is cold/ devoid of feeling/ why do I find it/ so much appealing?’ Yes, I know it doesn’t read perfectly, and I know one can hear human frailties therein. But that’s the whole point. That’s why it sounds so good. The human factor juxtaposed with machine. See?

The next ‘find’ is ‘Rollergirl’ by young Parisians, Jupiter. This is pure, pure, pop. Cool, effortless pop so pretty, I just want to hear more by this band. But, at the same time, I don’t. Just in case it’s not as good. The vocal melody alone means that this song should be a massive, massive hit.

Lastly, ‘Panzerkrieg’ by The Coal Daughters, is just shy of six minutes of what sounds like a tour around macbook pro factory in an automated cart. There is no vocal here, but you can imagine an electronic voice telling us ‘and here is the final inspection area. Here is where an all-over visual check of the appliance is made, by the automaton with the latest in ‘humanistic sight recording technology’…’. The Coal Daughters have indeed Krafted their werk well.

Yes, Botpop is a success – in that what unites every song here is not just the electronics – but the quality.

Links:
http://www.happyrobots.co.uk/
http://www.myspace.com/happyrobots