Apples In Stereo

It's always a relief when supposed legends don't let you down. I had heard the name Silver Apples around, and they were on my mental checklist of artist I need to investigate (a list so long and demanding on my brain space that it stops me from retaining any useful information). So when I finally got around to listening to them, I was delighted to hear that they were worth the wait. They were formed in New York in the late 60's, but they sound more like Germans from the early seventies, with synths, nervy vocals and motorik beats, all Neu and early Kraftwerk. But they were there before, totally out of time and place, like an American BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Their influence on a range of artists, mosty noticeably Portishead, is obvious.

Silver Apples - Oscillations And they still exist, performing and recording, and remixing the kids:

Simian Mobile Disco - Scott 28 (Silver Apples Remix)

Buy Silver Apples records here

Jamesinbrasil's Underrated Albums Number One

I have been enjoying the new album by Simian Mobile Disco, part of this years triumvirate of great electro house records, alongside Justice and Digitalism, but it really made me want to dig out the vinyl of their previous incarnation, Simian. They were a different proposition, dreamy electronic pop, especially on their first album, Chemistry Is What We Are. I remembered this as great record, and sorely under-appreciated at the time. After much trawling around the internet, and even an attempt to purchase the physical CD on my last visit to England, I managed to locate the album, and it almost lives up to my expectations. It's less a great record, more a good record with great moments. Its definitely worth tracking down, and definitely better than its deleted status suggests.

Simian - One Dimension