Electrofunk pair regurgitates first two albums to make latest strobe light, dance thumper.

Chromeo

Vice Recordings: Business Casual

“The only successful Arab/Jewish partnership since the dawn of human culture” is the self-inflicted motto that the two members of the veteran electrofunk band, Chromeo, have bestowed upon themselves. Despite the slogan’s cleverness, the claim is true in some aspects. Dave 1, born David Macklovich, is a Jewish guitarist and lead vocalist. P-Thugg, born Patrick Gemayel, is an Arabian keyboard, synth and talk box player. Together, the two make Chromeo, and together, the two are successful.

Successful because with the debut of their third album Business Casual, the two have managed to replicate the fun, get-up-and-dance sound of their first two albums on a greater, cleaner scale. The vibe, soul and robotic one-liners of 2004’s She’s In Control and 2008’s Fancy Footwork are still here. The only difference is the album covers.

As sole producers, Gemayel and Macklovich seem either unable or unwilling to abandon the formula that has shaped both their musical identity and the electrofunk genre.  A steady 1, 2 punch of snare, bass drum, snare, bass drum armed with a deep wiggling bass. The entire catalog of Business Casual could well have been rejects from the first two records. Casual’s “You Make It Rough” is a song hopping on its sparkling synth melodies and auto-tuned chorus lines (you make it rough/ so rough/ for me to get through to ya/ so rough/ aint getting no response) – Fancy Footwork’s “Tenderoni” thumps on the same trip.

Electrofunk is a genre that drips down from a much broader genre of electronic music. Of the tons of genres that electronica has yielded, electrofunk doesn’t demand much complexity. It is by nature a party genre whose main goal is to get listeners to the dance floor. Casual is chock-full of these numbers. Tunes including “Hot Mess,” a song with a Gap Band keyboard riff about everyone’s “favorite” ladies and “Don’t Turn the Lights On,” the drum-happy, lead single searching for a disco ball.

The Chromeo duo is often compared to 80’s pop team Hall and Oates for their similar catchy hooks and complimentary vocals. But Macklovich ball-hogs the vocals on Casual, and Gemayel is rarely heard (aside from a line now and then). This is favorable though because Macklovich is sensational as the voice of the two, even finding time to sing in French (he is currently earning his Ph.D in French literature) on the short song “J’ai Claque la Porte” (which translates to “slamming the door”).

This album is great for dancing or party scene in a movie. It has a great groove and feel without being to obstructive or obnoxious – perfect to lay script dialogue on top off. Even then it is suitable for an actual party. Business Casual has got that special kind of feel that says “this party sucks but I’m going to stay for the music.”  So as Chromeo keeps their own shindig going with the same sound album after album, at least it’s still a party.

Buy the album at our record store on Amazon

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