Le Galaxie : Laserdisc Nights 2
By Ross Maguire
I first saw Le Galaxie back in 2009 supporting Super Extra Bonus Party in the Academy and I was blown away. The band are an electro/indie/dance quartet from Dublin, and when their music was exploding from the stage I could hardly believe they were only four, and that they were Human and not some sort of crazy intergalactic music genius robots.
Since that gig I had been dying to see how this would translate on record, and I had heard a few singles on YouTube and was really impressed, but with their new release and first LP “Laser Disc Nights 2” the band have exceeded all of my expectations.
If you like indie/electro and hard-core programming sounds with talk box style vocals then this is the album for you. Think Kraftwerk meets Depeche mode, meets Aphex Twin… only to a completely new level. The opening track of the 10 is titled “Earth”, and starts with an arpeggio on the synth with the base drum on every beat. A synth comes in with almost brass-like sound and plays a catchy little techno hook before the song takes lift-off into a burst of synth and drums. There’s vocals in there too, at least I’m sure they are, but I can’t make them out at all as it almost sound like my computer is talking to me as I’m typing, but who needs lyrics? All Le Galaxie are trying to do is make you dance.
“Midnight Midnight” is without doubt one of the strongest on the album. The band has already recorded a ghoulish video for it which you can view on YouTube. The track opens with a standard drum beat, the drummer opting for an acoustic kit on this one, and then the synths arrive, once again re-enforcing that massive electro sound that the band displayed live. This song has fist pumping written all over it, and is a piece of work that Hadouken or Holy Fuck would tip their hats to. During the chorus you can’t help but imagine being back in the early 90’s at some warehouse rave, being blinded by strobes and singing along to the “woooooo” that the band shout on every sentence.
Track seven on the album is titled “Orion”, and is probably my favourite on the album. It opens with a very warm synth sound, kind of like something you’d hear on Daft Punk’s” something about us”.The song remains fairly smooth for about a minute showing Le Galaxies soft side, then the band start the chanting they displayed previously and the track fills with an epidemic of dirty synths and guitar riffs.
The next track “Solar babies” opens with something similar to music from “Space Jam” and carries on with some heavy programmed drums, before closing with a triumphant outro lead by a passion pit-like hook on the synth. The album ends with “Victory”, a track that contains some sturdy bass lines and vocals that have so much reverb you wonder if they were recorded in the biggest church known to aliens.
“Laserdiscs Nights 2” is worthy of success for Le Galaxie. A lot has gone into this album and not only the music but the production is fantastic. The only thing I will say is that if you’re reading this and you don’t like your electro/indie/pop and have never heard of Gary Numan, then don’t go near Le Galaxie unless your open to being swayed, because they have certainly found their own style in the electronic niche and are sticking to it. Those of you who are the opposite and think you’re going to love this, you won’t be disappointed.