Soulwax - 'Any Minute Now' (PIAS) Released 30/08/04

It’s been a while since Belgian siblings, duo Soulwax aka 2 Many DJs have made an album proper. Their last release under the 2MD alter-ego saw them produce a brilliant eclectic compilation of other peoples work and more recently they’ve been keeping themselves busy remixing the likes of Felix Da Housecat, Ladytron and Kylie.

Their new creation is not a million miles from where the lads left off with 1998’s ‘Much Against Everyone’s Advice’ an attempt (albeit a fairly successful one) to meld dance music with alternative guitar rock. This time round there’s a little less guitar and a bit more dance of the electro variety. Though ‘Any Minute Now’ has a more familiar straightforward sound, opener ‘E Talking’ heralds their more electro sound which is perfected by the time we reach ‘YYY/NNN’ (possibly inspired by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ producer having a small hand in the album).

Overall their dark brooding electronic rock is a success, but lacks a heavyweight outstanding track that you’d expect from veterans such as these. This is more than likely due to Stephen Dewaele’s insipid vocal (which is only pushed to its limit during electropunky KracK), but fortunately there’s enough in the music to keep you from watching the clock.