The genre defining band is back and it has raised the bar to a whole new level. Caravan Palace has been the premier electro-swing band ever since the release of its self-titled album back in 2008. Panic confirmed to the world that this electronic gypsy band was still a force to be reckoned with, and the album, also known as Robot Face, is accelerating the hype-train to blistering speeds.
Not only does Robot Face succeed in pumping even higher energy tracks into Caravan Palace’s already energized repertoire, but it also showed that it still can, and is willing to, successfully take its style in new directions while remaining comfortable. Robot Face adds enough new to the mix to keep its audience interested while remaining in a realm where it isn’t deviant at all. Sequels like this are the kind that any fan in any medium crave for: a satisfying, high-quality continuation that adds upon its own originality.
The initial two songs are amongst the many highlights of Robot Face. “Lone Digger” does well in setting a solid stylistic direction with an explosive introduction. It’s not uncommon to hear lead singer Zoe Colotis make her way into a track, but it’s uncommon enough to be a treat every time she is featured. This time, though, she blasts us with a fast paced, in-your-face style of singing that combines well with the high pitched vocal samples and blaring brass sections. “Comics” features a much slower tempo that uses a swing to emphasize the beginning of each beat too well. Every time I listen to it it feels as though an invisible force is bopping my body to each beat. The synth solo featured many times throughout the song is crazy; it glitches and hops around and screeches all while contributing to the head banging sensation. “Lone Digger” and “Comics” do a perfect job of having fun and assuring that the fun won’t end until the last song is finished.
The rest of the album is just as playful as the initial songs promised. Its entirety is an excellent blend of modern big room house, electro, and occasional hints of trap themes while maintaining a rag-timey vibe. It’s an album where you can choose between swing-dancing and flailing around without any awkward ramifications. “Wonderland” is a testament to how beautiful this marriage of electronic and swing really is. Caravan Palace could have elected to feature a heavy synth for the main instrument after the drop, but instead it threw in a saxophone on steroids. Oh, and if you were craving more from the electronic spectrum, it included those heavy synths towards the end.
The best way I can think of describing this album is to take one of those old black and white Mickey Mouse cartoons where all the animals are dancing to a jazzy tune, and then add a strobe light and some lasers. Caravan Palace outdid themselves. The band’s energy and ability to create a good time through music is amongst the top in the business. The only complaint is that the album was only thirty-nine minutes long. You can’t argue against an artist that goes for quality over quantity, though. Fans look forward to the day they announce a tour in the states as their live performances are more fun than the tickets are worth.
Recommended If You Like: Goldfish, Parov Stellar
Recommended Tracks: 2 (Comics), 1 (Lone Digger), 5 (Wonderland), 8 (Russian), 11 (Lay Down)
Do Not Play: None
Written by Shane Blair on 10/21/15