This album channels 1960s sounds through a 1990s 'filter', so it's pretty much in my wheelhouse.
The group was formed by Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs, who had both been music writers (who says 'those who can't, write). They'd originally planned to feature different singers across every album, but after working with Sarah Cracknell on this, their debut, they decided to invite her in as a permanent vocalist.
The album does something that I love, namely it engages in musical collage/experimentation, but uses it to create something quite accessible and poppy. The dancey beats were akin to the sounds fermenting in the triphop scene, some of the film/dialogue samples lend things a touch of musique concrete, but the melodies and much of the arrangement hints more at summery 60s pop, with wistful female vocals and swirly psychedelic string touches.
Oddly, I've never got around to checking out the rest of their albums. Might have to put it on the musical to-do list once I've finished the 1001.
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