Smile And Receive

Smile And Receive

Swayzak [K7 Records]

29 November, 2007 | 6.43PM

• Written by: Richard Brophy
• Filed under: Music Recommendations: apparat, cassy, k7, richard davis, swayzak

Swayzak’s journey over the past 15 years has been an unpredictable one, as they released dubby, stripped back techno a decade before it became fashionable, flirted with electroclash, and then made the leap to connect songwriting flair with techno melancholia on their last album, the excellent ‘Loops from the Bergerie’.

For once, the new album treads familiar ground and begs the question: are Swayzak finally getting jaded or is everyone else just finally catching up with them?

Whatever way you look at it, it’s true that they have been there before - so maybe this remix package can salvage some of their pride.

Indeed, it is full of surprises, some good, some not so good; instead of his recent approach of unting the pop and abstract, glitchy techno worlds, Apparat’s version boasts shimmering chord sequences and a solid dubby backing, more for the club than the sofa.

Unfortunately, the usually consistent Richard Davis disappoints with a bland electro pop reshape, and Panorama Bar resident Cassy, who sings on the track, is the only constant, her raw, jacking US house-influenced rhythms similar to the sound that she always plays and makes.

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