Simian Mobile Disco // Audio

Like most people in my social milieu, I’m fairly behind the times when it comes to anything outside djs and clubs, so when I first heard of Simian Mobile Disco (SMD), I thought my mate Simian – Slackers homeboy – had set up some cottage industry of playing tunes out the back of a caravan, all free party stylee. Was I the sad lame-o!

In case you’re similarly living underneath a rock off the Brighton shore, SMD spawned from a late ’90s Manchester band Simian. The seminal point for the soon-to-be SMD was when Simian’s record company ran a remix competition of their song “Never Be Alone”. A certain French production duo called Justice lost with their entry. Shame. Band members Mr James Ford and Mr James “Jas” Shaw started playing electro records and tongue-in-cheek named themselves SMD.

The duo produce as well as perform live and their electro grooves are famously hot, including their latest release “It’s the Beat”, which came out this March – its a song that has single-handedly blatantly sexed up the dancefloor with liberal sampling of Technotronic’s “Pump Up The Jam” (these days, it’s hipster slang for pumping up your bike tire). I’d personally lump Simian Mobile Disco, without any trace of sneeringness, in the long line of bands that make up the current uber-trendy design-oriented soundtrack for generation NOW (I just made that up). It’s kind of like what the New York art scene has done to virtually every decade of young people, only this time the influences are no longer NewYork-centric. Their badge of coolness is a recent gig this spring at the Vice Party in Berlin (March 07).

Fast-forward to NOW.

Saturday night at Audio’s becoming a regular thing for me and my friend Lucy, who’s an Italian-speaking English teacher with a penchant for salsa and jive. She’s in her final months for her teaching MA so stress has reared its ugly head, but when I suggested a night out dancing, she enthusiastically texted back a “YES!!”

I made a conscious choice not to be as drunk this Saturday as I was last Saturday. Pulled on some red fishnets, wedge-heeled sandals, a Gautier red top and a naval blue checked mini skirt and took a taxi over to Lucy’s, where we drank some rioja and I helped Lucy pick out an outfit. Receive a panicky phone call from Marek, then spend half an hour waiting for a taxi, which never arrives. We stumble down to London Road to get some cash, then good smiles on my poor feet as a taxi pulls over – as though by magic.

It was midnight when we pulled up to Audio and the queue was round the block. Lucy gasped but I waited for the change from the taxi driver, I assured her that we’d breeze in. The lovely, but stone faced security told us that it was already one in/one out, and the guest list queue became a who’s who line up of Brighton DJs and promoters – Rik was there, as was Jim Paranoia (ATT100). We fantasised about bouncers carrying over trays of martinis, just for us. We spoke to a man who thought we were accusing him of queue jumping (it did sorta look like it) and his friend, the fashion photographer. We heard that it was SMD’s kit that pushed the club quickly to capacity: apparently Jas “largest modular synth in the South East of England” took up the space of like 50 people – yikes!

After a 20 minutes wait, we pushed our way into a very rammed, very frenetic club. Lots of young pretty people. DJ booth in the back, where Ollie’s sound desk was. Nadia Ksabia was captain of the tunes. There was an electric vibe in the air, with photographers from all the major music magazines (MixMag, etc) darting around, catching snaps for boys in retro shades and darlings with bows in their hair, off the shoulder couture and asses hanging on the floor. A film crew was also setting up – Ollie explained that SMD’s gig was being filmed. Definitely check that out if it broadcasts online.

I found Marek with the very birthdayed up Elliot. Marek sported a new pixyish haircut, while Elliot sported the nearly dead look with his eyes rolling up at the back of his head.

Suddenly there was snap and Marek ran off. Everyone hurried over to the stage up front as James and Jas swooped down. They started their set with the bleepy “Tits and Acid” – I remember this because my friend Lucy and I were standing over to the right of the stage and she made us move when the squeaking fired out of the speakers. After the first song, we went up to the smaller bar for more drinks and from there, I could watch the show easier – guy with big hair, a guy with big glasses and a great big monster of a machine all around them. At the bar, I also watched queue jump dude and a girl performing an astonishing jiggy slamdance. Down below, ravers were squeaking the floors clean. With fresh gin and tonics and cranberry vodkas in hand, we tried out the other side. Here, the crowd was happy and bouncing and it was pretty clear all night that the massive turnout were all big-time fans, so despite space-limitations, people were pretty good going. SMD played all of the songs from their upcoming debut album, apparently out this summer, including “Hustler”, “Hotdog” and “Sleep Deprivation”. Even the slo-mo “if disco ever took K” song “I Believe” was great heard live. Their electro-fuelled party tunes is definitely the kind of music that makes you dance a lot more hip-to-hip with total strangers and I found myself busting a groove with one guy in the corner – apologies for not accepting the drink, I was just being a girl ! Fruit machine lights zinged up and down in the background – fantastic set.

CUT TO: afterwards.

I saw James standing at the back bar, looking weary and waiting for his drinks. He had that “don’t fucking talk to me” look, so I didn’t. It was a great night for dancing, with the Stompa Phunk dj’s mixing minimal, electro and house. Had lots of hugs with Eliot, bumped into Jas and Paul and his brother and we fashioned a crew. When the djs put on Daft Punk “Da Funk” everyone went strangely nuts like it was 1999 or something. All in all, a good choice of tunes all night long, although my friend Lucy did complain that some of the dj sets were a little too pick n mix for her taste. I particularly liked the European flavour of the night – more trash, less Euro I say!

And I did hear this thing from Marek about him and his girlfriend faux propositioning strangers for group sex – it was a joke, people! Although I did tell Marek on several occasions that it was a sick joke nonetheless. Went home at about four, leaving the neon partygoers to carry on the torch towards the morning touchdown.

Happy birthday, Elliot!

Missed out on Simian Mobile Disco?

Hear their tunes: www.myspace.com/simianmobiledisco

Have them play at your house: http://www.sign-up.to/signup.php?fid=1426&pid=1071

Watch their videos: www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%22simian+mobile+disco%22&search=Search

Catch them this summer at Fabric (London): http://www.simianmobiledisco.co.uk/

Audio
http://www.audiobrighton.com

10 Marine Parade
Brighton
East Sussex
Tel: 01273-624343

info@audiobrighton.com

Words: Amy the Film Maker and Marek the Czech

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