The Presets - Apocalypso (2008)

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After the runaway success of 2005’s "Beams",The Presets are back with "Apocalypso", serving up more goosebump-inducing electro magic. All I’ll say is this: tie your shit down, because you’re going to lose it very promptly if you don’t.

Kicking and Screaming opens the album with that familiar crisp, snarling snare, and as the intro steadily builds, you’ll start to wish you’d heeded my warning about 'securing your shit'.

Julian’s first line pierces the air, “When I was young…” and you’ll find it very hard not to crack the same satisfied smirk that I did: “They’re fucking back!”

As Kicking and Screaming comes to a close, you’ll be saturated with sweat and gasping for breath after busting out your best moves all over your bedroom/train carriage. You probably think you need to rest a minute, but The Presets ain’t gonna let you. Make way for My People.

Hit single My People poses a structural threat to any venue that plays it. If you need proof, just venture out to any discotheque and watch the boys and girls veritably lose their minds when it’s played; jumping up and down with such vigour, you’d swear they were on something.

My People’s in-your-face vocal melody, filthy bass lines, and relentless beat will have you sweating from places you didn’t even know you could sweat from, trust me.

The second track released from the record, This Boy’s in Love, again features that clean snare that has noticeably helped win over more indie-rock inclined fans, when compared with the processed beats found in most electro/house music. The piano melody and falsetto chorus make this track soar through the air, and when you add Julian’s haunting baritone voice over restless synth verses, the result is yet another electro anthem from the boys who can’t help but churn out classics.

A New Sky, Yippiyo-Ay, Talk Like That and Together are all permeated by one similarity: their rhythms are so infectious that no matter where you are when you hear them, you won’t be able to hold still. It’s as though Kimberly and Julian crawl into your mind through your ears and switch you into dance-mode.

*Note: Beware the dentist who owns "Apocalypso"*

If I Know You, Aeons and Anywhere prove that our Presets aren’t one trick ponies. These tracks constitute the moodier side of "Apocalypso". If I Know You and Anywhere channel Julian’s vocal versatility: his range, tone and dynamic control are truly impressive in these more contemplative songs. But I’d like to make a special mention of Aeons; the darkest and most delicate track on the album.

Aeons is an utterly expansive soundscape that can induce a state of euphoria upon one listen and a deep sense of isolation on the next. One thing about Aeons remains constant however: its majesty is awe-inspiring.

With the release of "Apocalypso", Jules and Kim cement their spot at the very top of the Australian electro scene, with tickets to their upcoming shows all over the country selling like hot-cakes. "Apocalypso" is a hugely entertaining record, one of those rare releases that hold your attention effortlessly from first beat to last.

Mark my words: this is one of the best albums to come out of this country in quite some time. Get your electro mittens on "Apocalypso" right now! 

RATING: 4 out of 5

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