- Release date:
- June 24, 2008
- Artist/Band name:
- Hercules and Love Affair
- Record label:
- Mute
- Official Web Site:
- http://herculesandloveaffair.com/
Why you should care: Butler surely is one of electronic music’s breakout stars of the year; he channels the ghosts of disco past without resorting to lazy kitsch.
Verdict: Disco dance music inspired by sad old Greek myths—how can you go wrong? About a million ways. But, aside from a late dip in momentum, Butler makes his weird formula work well. He gets a Herculean assist from his ensemble cast, particularly Antony and co-producer (and DFA co-owner) Tim Goldsworthy. Antony far surpasses his fellow singers, so it’s fortunate that he’s the dominant vocal presence on the album. His hyper-dramatic croon, normally tied to his own melancholy material, proves to be a perfect counterpart to Butler’s jubilant beats, as best showcased on the monster lead single “Blind.” There’s pain behind this dance party, but that’s little surprise; the ones who hit the floor hardest are often the ones dancing to escape.
X-Factor: The U.S. release features two quality bonus tracks—“Classique #2” and “Roar”—that were originally released as a single.
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