Arling & Cameron - Hi-fi Underground

Arling & Cameron return after a long hiatus (as well as, if the liner notes are to be believed, a terrible injury) with _Hi-Fi Underground_. And while it starts off with the catchy synth-pop that has always dominated their albums, the first few track feel a little wan compared to their earlier output. "I Don't Need It" has plenty of disco swagger, while the incredibly peppy "Words" has a kinetic energy of its own. But the album takes a stark turn with the delicate "Change," a simple, romantic, acoustic-guitar driven track. "We Can't Be Somebody Else," a proto-hippie call for human unity, seems a far cry from the party-hard attitude of "Shake It." The new version of their classic hit "Popcorn," (now "Popcorn 2006") is much more stripped down, but the shoegazy "Games" actually has more "pop." Finally, "Slow Food" sees A&C delving into Air territory, perhaps better than Air is currently doing themselves. Uneven, but worthwhile.