2020Soundsystem - Falling

2020Soundsystem return for album number 2, drawing on years of their live jams and their individual production projects. 15 years on from the inception of 2020Vision, the label which lynchpin Ralph Lawson runs, and they’re still sounding full of youthful energy and ideas.
 
The songwriting is pretty strong and accomplished throughout – from the slo-mo Death In Vegas dirt of We Get Down, into the dreamy, moody nu-disco atmospherics of Everytime and right through to the seeming Ian Brown-tribute Way Of Life, these guys deserve real plaudits outside of their usual milieu. Closure falls on the Freeland side of things, slightly grungey and more or less alt-indie with a loosely dancey syncopation to it.
 
For pure dancefloor power, Bisco caters well, with its rampant disco b-line and gradually building intensity. Sliding Away is a better known in its Johnny D form, but is still a real gem of a track with a sneering, unusual vocal with a tinge of shoegaze to it that really sticks in your head – and other single Falling is simply glorious with its Nightmares On Wax undertones and haunting vocals. In fact, their dual (or is that triple?) vocal style – no harmonies, just a small chorus effect – gives all their tracks a slightly spooky, enchanting feel. When you’re not a born natural singer, power in numbers can be a much better idea. Not that their voices aren’t pretty good…
 
A few tracks midway fade into the background a little, but the quality here is enough to keep you coming back again and again. A great collection from a unique, very lovable outfit.