Hercules and Love Affair

Alfons

Way of the future
So about a week ago I had never heard of this band but now I see them mentioned everywhere. Scanned through the album and it sound alright, pretty good even, but the amount of hype is really a bit too much.

I really like Anthonys voice better in this context than on the songs I had heard from him previously (not listened to him too much, but gave his album a listen or two). Like the production and sound of the tunes too, think there will be some good remixes coming out too this being dfa and all.

Will this be the album to take this current disco revival properly to the mainstream?
 

lamp post

Wild Horses
nothing on the album sounds like it could be a hit, to be honest, but then again i'm taking a hit as something being top ten, dunno about you
 

Leo

Well-known member
best thing from H&LA isn't on the album: the frankie knuckles' remix of "blind." kills the original.
 

Gabba Flamenco Crossover

High Sierra Skullfuck
I got classique #2 b/w roar on 12" before i'd heard anything about them. Both wicked tracks. Don't know how representative of the album they are.

Journos cream themselves over LCD Soundsystem though don't they so the hype was kind of a given cos of the DFA link. Can't blame the label for cashing in on it.
 

Alfons

Way of the future
nothing on the album sounds like it could be a hit, to be honest, but then again i'm taking a hit as something being top ten, dunno about you

Nah, didn't mean in a top ten sense, meant more in the sense of moving from the dance community to the hipster indie circles (pitchfork etc.).

I got classique #2 b/w roar on 12" before i'd heard anything about them. Both wicked tracks. Don't know how representative of the album they are.

Journos cream themselves over LCD Soundsystem though don't they so the hype was kind of a given cos of the DFA link. Can't blame the label for cashing in on it.


Yeah the label probably helps, but from what Ive heard this is way more disco and less rock/post punk/electro than most of the dfa stuff Im familiar with.
 

mms

sometimes
i quite liked it, it's not going to change the world and it's rather adept at pilfering from old house music's modes and effects, which is fine but i'd also agree, anthony's voice sounds good although he's not quite an ecstatic house diva, still quite a glum bloke/lady.
 

lamp post

Wild Horses
Nah, didn't mean in a top ten sense, meant more in the sense of moving from the dance community to the hipster indie circles (pitchfork etc.).




Yeah the label probably helps, but from what Ive heard this is way more disco and less rock/post punk/electro than most of the dfa stuff Im familiar with.

surely that's already happened. you can stretch to say that all of the early DFA stuff (The Rapture/LCD) is disco but the LCD Fabric mix is basically all disco so its already happened
 

Alfons

Way of the future
surely that's already happened. you can stretch to say that all of the early DFA stuff (The Rapture/LCD) is disco but the LCD Fabric mix is basically all disco so its already happened

In dance music circles definitely, Lindström, prins thomas, morgan geist, metro area etc... But I wouldn't say that any of those, nor the lcd fabric mix and that stuff, had really crossed over to the indie conciousness? While the sound is similar and related to the Rapture, LCD Soundsystem, !!! and so on I would say that Hercules and... are way more disco and house influenced and less rock and punk influenced.
 

straight

wings cru
i was a bit underwhelmed at first, it all seemed a bit too referential and derivative but i've really warmed to the songs themselves, they have a real 'last days of disco' melancholy at the core.
 

lissajou

Well-known member
this video owns me at the moment:

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blunt

shot by both sides
best thing from H&LA isn't on the album: the frankie knuckles' remix of "blind." kills the original.

Is good, but it's still a bit retro smug for my liking (which is my feeling on H&LA across the board). BUT I have to say: I think their own Club remix is awesome - easily my favourite tune of the year so far. It's like being stuck in a K-hole in the middle of the Paradise Garage. The vocal production is just knockout...
 

noel emits

a wonderful wooden reason
retro smug
As if contempo smug isn't bad enough ;)

Haven't heard any of this actually, just being daft. Is it possible to do disco and not come across a bit retro-smug? Liked some recent Metro Area I heard but really just for their consummate ability to recreate certain sounds in a slightly crisper modern way. Well done but sort of ultimately pointless. I guess there must be people doing more interesting new disco, it's not something I follow generally. Your avatar reminds me of Frank Bough.
 
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Ory

warp drive
Quite a neat record I thought, and lord knows it's a much-needed step away from the dreadful farty electro-house trend. I hope it sticks.

I always thought Prins Thomas, Lindström and the like were popular with the indie kids though? I have no clue actually. Those two, coupled with more (dare I say it) underground names like Alden Tyrell and I-F have been doing the disco revival thing for quite a while, aswell as the more recent Dissident label lot. Not to mention Sally Shapiro.

Anyway, good show.

EDIT: Listening to the Knuckles remix of "Blind" now. Absolutely brilliant stuff. Antony's voice is perfect for a 'gay' anthem like this, while at the same time retaining an indie aesthetic. This has the potential to be a club smasher.
 
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michael

Bring out the vacuum
I guess there must be people doing more interesting new disco, it's not something I follow generally..
Woebot once mentioned on here Black Leotard Front's Casual Friday as a bit of an avant disco masterpiece, and I have to agree. It's DFA-produced and released as well, but certainly a whole lot weirder than Hercules & Love Affair. I'm one of those (few on here?) who does really like what DFA do and it's this track I come back to most often.

I really like Escort, who are a contemporary NY disco act. More Metro Area connections there, from memory. I also really like Metro Area's last single with whoever Owusu from Owusu & Hannibal singing on it. As you say, it's very much sticking slavishly to a particular style from the past, but it's still not like I've heard that exact song done before and it's a good one.

I dunno, as Ory mentions, there's a lot of disco stuff being done at the mo, and I find plenty of it interesting.

I think it was Tim F who in one of his pitchfork reviews (Lindstrøm? probably) said it's not like disco is ever out of fashion in dance circles, it's just a question of what flavour or era...
 

sing_minimal

Well-known member
he's no sylvester thats for sure!

but seriously. it used to be fun nowdays it's melancholic...what changed? when i put on disco music from late 70's i smile, when i listen to this my head starts to hurt. dunno if i would want to hear that in a club. it's surprising most people seem to dig it when they hear it in the club. im thinking it's simply because they recognize it and not because it would sound so ace. it's the hype talking imo...i normally wouldn't bother with this at all as i don't listen to music that doesn't appeal to me, but im supposed to say something about the album and i'd really like to figure out why all the hype..is it because of dfa or something else?

edit; i'd rather dance to that madonna song with abba sample or kylie monigue or something..much more fun imo..
 
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noel emits

a wonderful wooden reason
Woebot once mentioned on here Black Leotard Front's Casual Friday as a bit of an avant disco masterpiece, and I have to agree. It's DFA-produced and released as well, but certainly a whole lot weirder than Hercules & Love Affair. I'm one of those (few on here?) who does really like what DFA do and it's this track I come back to most often.
Yes of course, I like that record too. It's Delia & Gavin isn't it? Emperor Machine also doing some really good stuff and some of the new 'cosmic' things like Italians Do It Better label. I guess there's loads of it about. Very blog-trendy though.
 
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