Electric Sound of Joy
Electric Sound of Joy
Foundry Recordings

The guys in Electric Sound of Joy are never going to be famous, but they could have been. Two years ago, when the group released two early singles on fledgling collector-oriented label Earworm, it seemed as if the group was going to lead its label — which had also put out records by indie stalwarts Yo La Tengo, Hood and Damon and Naomi, not to mention the hotly-tipped Novak — right onto the fronts of the British music tabloids.

But following an acrimonious split with their vocalist (who was not replaced), the remaining members of ESoJ have forged onward, composing delightful, spacey instrumentals that bathe the listener in analog synth and fast, funky guitar. Excellent, but hardly the kind of stuff that sells millions in middle America.

The band's self-titled debut, recently released on the U.K.'s Foundry Recordings, shows us a band that's improved markedly over its last single, "Food of the Range."

On that 12", we were presented with a band struggling to find itself an identity after the departure of its prominent frontman. While the group did make the transition from pop songs to longer, out-there instrumentals, the 12" showed the band still had some improving to do.

Electric Sound of Joy shows a band that's made considerable progress, even if it hasn't quite captured the spirit of its (terrific) live shows.

"Familyman," is as good as anything the band's done to date, save maybe that first single on Earworm. It gets things rolling with smooth analog-bass-and-drums driven hooks with a funk-and-rock-based middle section. The song has moments of jazz-like improvisation, but there's too much structure for this music to be called anything but instrumental.

"Don't Waste Time," the album's poppiest song — those who've heard the group's previous incarnation should be able to imagine the singer back behind the mic — is the other standout on a disc full of decent songs. Unlike "Familyman," the guitar takes over here, relegating the analogs to second fiddle.

ESoJ's debut is a strong album, showing us a group that's rediscovered itself and should be capable of putting out good records for years to come, even if we longtime fans do miss the vocals once in awhile.

Fans of groups like Moog Cookbook, Air and Stereolab take note. Electric Sound of Joy is the kind of space-age bachelor pad music we might still expect from Stereolab had the Groop not discovered all those exotica and easy listening records.

— Eric Wittmershaus (ericw at flakmag dot com)