Info: Plutonic Dust are one of Ireland’s most prominent nu-disco acts and have set alight the festival scene. Combining bone trembling disco-synth with vocal ambience and melodic funk, this is a band that carry an audience to a whole new place. Their sound is vibrant and alive, fusing heart-hitting synth melodies with punk/funk style bass-lines, lo-fi analogue disco beats, sensual vocals and disco/funk guitar.
I'll get this out of the way firstly, there's is not a single piece of filler or ho-hum track on Grand Delusions, every single one is worthy of a place on this album by a long shot. Getting to grips with it's expanse was surprisingly easy due to how energising and enjoyable its 9 tracks are. Plutonic Dust have put together an album that is like dark treacle, it's thick and it drips deliberately into your brain, journeying from 80's continental chillwave, early 90's house and dubstep, to early noughties electronic music and a full swathe of contemporary experimental dollops flung on top.
I can't think of a better opening to the album than the wholesome and filthy Kraftwerkian synth progression with accompanying beat on 'Hoops', vocalist Veronica Moran sits atop a dark mountain like a siren from Greek mythology calling us in to begin our maiden voyage. 'Losing Control' begins with a shuddering beat and percussion before lush synths join the fray, it's like the merriment of Cansei De Ser Sexy's 'Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above' is stripped away and some Numanoids have reassembled it; 'This music is my saviour, my body feels so high' the pre-chorus announces, and yes, we are fully in Plutonic Dust's zone already.
'Rain Talk' ushers in that 90's vibe I mentioned, it's whirling through house and rave, and it's gorgeously nostalgic, but it's also pertinently modern, the funky guitar riff has an acid-jazz strain running through it, รก la St.Germain, the whole package is near-perfection here and once again Moran's vocals soar to ecstatic heights. 'Kill For Gold' kills it, I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said this was one of the most appealing modern electronic tracks I've heard based on my tastes from early 80's synthpop such as Guerre Froide and Cabaret Voltaire. The keys are haunting and when the guitar comes in at 1:53 we're catapulted into full disco-funk mode, an amazingly fresh blend of styles.
On 'Sugar Honey' we're treated to a mesmeric and hypnotic house rhythm with chugging muted guitar accentuating proceedings nicely, the funk is smooth as a mountain stream, this is where things really do get cosmic and we're launched into the ether. The almost mono synth on 'Bright Lights' encompasses what is possibly my favourite track on Grand Delusions, alongside 'Hoops', it's the perfect mix of what you might have found on an early-90's rave compilation cassette and the groups modern flavours, it's a definite dance-floor filler too, top notch stuff.
After the industrial sounds of 'Body Talk' we reach the albums finale with 'Eskimo Kiss', a barn-storming race through outer space. The rhythm and bass are fast but controlled, like clockwork, keys and vocals assert a level of calm amidst the manic nature of both. At the risk of going on about them, Moran's vocals again lift us to another world, beckoning but almost exhausted at what has preceded. Then suddenly, without warning they go out like a blown out candle, you're almost waiting for something else to come along, but you're just drifting in silence in space, it's over, but what a hell of a trip it was.
Download the album here;
Look / Like / Listen & Follow:
Website: http://www.plutonicdust.com/
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/plutonic-dust (tracks to follow)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlutonicDust
