the 31 best of 2008 – 23: The Presets – Apocalypso

It looks like I am staying “down under” for the next album on this countdown; the Presets hail from Australia, and have produced one of the best electronic albums I have heard in a very, very long time. The hard hitting beats and pulsating rhythms, accompanied by the haunting British-accented vocals, make for a rave-inducing experience that will have you jumping up and down and dancing all night long.

I was lucky enough to see The Presets a few months ago, and they were nothing short of amazing; the whole room literally moved with their music. The music may be a little “hard” for some, but it is magnificent, and the electronic arrangements of this CD are purposeful in their placement, and extremely stimulating. I remember when I first saw the video for the lead single of Apocalypso, My People, and all I could think was, “what the fuck IS this”. Well, regardless of how scary the video is, I know that my ears perked up at what they were hearing, and instantly I found myself in front of my PC, downloading the album. What I ended up discovering, was an album that is really dark, yet upbeat at the same time; almost like you are dancing your way to the end of the world. It’s something that slightly avant-garde, but not so much so that you don’t get it, and you end up questioning its presence.

This album was recently awarded the ARIA album of the year in Australia, and I can definitely see why; this record is great. While there are a few songs that teeter on the brink of making you go completely insane, and want to rip your hair out at the inanity, they never do the deed, and push you over the edge. The repetition and breaking beats paint an apocalyptic landscape of sound, and truly shape an aural experience that must be undertaken to truly appreciate. This is one of those albums that the “cool kids” are likely to tell you about, but you will be able to tell them that you knew all about them, because they are popular enough that more than just those on the edge will have heard their music. This record really isn’t like anything else I heard this year, and the music is unique amongst the rest of the CDs on this list; and it’s that unique quality that is a large part of its awesomeness.

Sparkle Factor:
Standouts: My People, This Boy’s In Love, Anywhere, Talk Like That.