More on: CSS

Label: Sub Pop
Release Date: 21/07/08
Rating:

After the success of their self-titled debut, the Brazilian party fiends have spent the last two years touring the world with their brand of boozy electro-rock. After countless shows, they're back with their second offering 'Donkey' – a record that takes the fun of their debut and mixes it with a new-found sense of maturity.

That's right - maturity. Fear not though, CSS have not slid on their fluffy slippers and swapped a bottle of gin for a good ol' cuppa yet, as album opener 'Jager Yoga' deftly illustrates. As well as having an awesome title, it's exactly what you would expect from a cracking CSS tune - pounding drums, a rumbling bassline and heaps of cheeky synth. The quirky lyrics are back in the form of a party manifesto: "desperate living, hairspray/Baltimore with Tanqueray/Live your life John Waters' way".

First (free) single and second track 'Rat Is Dead (Rage)' is where CSS start to sound more refined. Fierce guitar comes out of nowhere and disappears as quickly as it arrived, and coming straight after the upbeat opener, its tale of an abusive lover seems slightly sombre. After the brief departure, we're steered back into the fun times with 'Lets Reggae All Night'. A generous portion of playful synth and humourous, often bawdy, lyrics give the impression that it was built to be the soundtrack to a particularly cheesy porn flick: "if you were my friend you could shake my milk and drink", confirms Lovefoxxx.

The balance between giddy silliness and respectable progression is flaunted further on in the guise of 'Left Behind'; while there are still ridiculous statements like "I'm going to get onto the table and dance my ass off 'til I die", the rousing chorus of full-bodied guitars almost makes the listener question who they are hearing. 'Beautiful Song' is all jangly guitars and soaring keyboards, while 'Move' has a glitzy touch of 80s glamour pop and hints of early Madonna. 'I Fly' is one of the best cuts on 'Donkey' - its Hadouken-style opening of thrashing guitar and high-pitched electronica only beaten by the preposterous story of Lovefoxxx's transformation into a fly that allows her to spy on an ex in less traditional methods.

While 'Donkey' is just about everything you could ask for from CSS, it's a shame the band didn't experiment with riskier sounds. Their grown-up approach on some songs is much appreciated though, and the gang show they still haven't lost touch with the party dynamics that made their debut such an entertaining ride. 'Donkey' is certainly an above-average record that is as good as its predecessor, but CSS may need to come up with some fresh ideas next time around. For now though, plenty will be happy to dance their asses off to this.

Graham Drummond

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