REVIEW: Electric Six - Heartbeats and Brainwaves!

So, it's another October and another Electric Six album. Possibly the most prolific of bands outside of Sparks, 'Heartbeats and Brainwaves!' is their eighth album in nine years, which is some going.

As with every E6 album that has preceeded it, it's in a different style to anything that has come before it, making it more and more difficult to define what the 'sound' of the Detroit band is.

But, as with previous albums, the initial listen to the 52-minute 14-track CD leads to a scratching of the head, a puzzled luck and a cry of 'It's not as good as their previous material.' However, after a few listens this proves to be incorrect.

OK, not entirely incorrect. 'Heartbeats and Brainwaves!' is a more difficult listen than previous albums, as each one becomes subsequently more layered, complex and, frankly, weirder. There is, however, much of the E6 magic here to enjoy, even if there are more tracks than usual that are skippable. However, on flicking through online forums these prove to be different tracks to different people, proving how tastes differ and the only good judge of an album and how much you enjoy it is yourself.

Opener 'Psychic Visions' reminds me of 'Switzerland' opener 'The Band In Hell', a good track but not one that should really start the album, it being quite slow and pondering. But, it's ethereal tones work well and fit in with the theme of the song.

It's second track 'French Bacon' that really kicks off the album, with it's lengthy one-minute opener that throbs with its base-y notes, before kicking off to a speedy and catchy track with a repeated chorus that compliments the synth and guitar with some memorable rhymes that will get you singing along quickly.

'Gridlock!' is like Franz Ferdinand crossed with a superhero film. More poppy, the verses are great even if the bridgey-chorus thing can sometimes go on a bit. The 'Joker-Poker' bits work or don't work depending on your feeling. It's a song without a true chorus so, like 'Mr. Woman', 'Vengeance and Fashion' and others before it, is a different layout for the song but as catchy as those examples.

'It Gets Hot' starts like 'Down At McDonnelzzz' ended, and is the band's pastiche on r'n'b, including some great breaks, rapping and mirroring female vocals. One of the best on the album.

'The Intergalatic Version' is a synth-heavy ethereal track and, though not one on the strongest tracks on the album, is interesting to listen to from a production point of view.

'Interchangeable Knife' continues the synthy feel, with guest vocals alternative to Dick Valentine, and is another middling track.

'Food Dog', kicking off with some low quality sound effects, it my least favourite on the album, but I don't hate it as much as when I first heard it. Rockier than previous tracks, but still mostly synth, it just doesn't do it for me and sounds too much like 'The Lonely Island' and less like Electric Six.

But the best song on the album follows in the addictive 'Hello! I See You', with clapping, a great chorus, building verses, and multi-layered clothing. A must download and listen.

Then the album drifts away slightly. 'Bleed For The Artist' is nice, but that's all I can say about it, and it's similar compliments for 'We Use The Same Products'.

'Eye Contact' though, with its bongo-esque drumming, airy, effected chorus is great fun, and follower 'Free Samples, even starting with a sample that sounds like it was ripped off YouTube, is in the top five tracks of the album, with a great beat, opening, chorus and general feel.

Penultimate track 'I Go Through Phases' is irritating in parts but redeems itself in areas, those the reputation of the title gets boring quickly. However, closer and titular tracks is five minutes of win, or so the kids say, with a great mix of music, lyrics, production effects and instrumental sections, bringing the album to a neat conclusion.

I'm sure my opinion of the album and some of its tracks will change with more listens but, like 'I Shall Exterminate...' before it, it's a great album with a few too many extra passengers. I could easily see tracks 'Food Dog', 'Bleed For The Artist' and 'I Go Through Phases' jettistoned to make it a leaner, more consistent album but with many quality tracks onboard I can forgive these songs.

It's no 'Senor Smoke' or 'Zodiac', but it's another great release from the band, with a range of songs that other groups would, erm, KILL for to include.

[6.5 / 10]