Isolée ‎– We Are Monster

Releasing a landmark LP and then disappearing for 5 years before bringing out a new one usually spells disaster for most artists. The weight of expectation usually buries good LPs because essentially they're not quite up to the first one. "Rest" was a great LP, and the subsequent massive hit "Beau Mot Plage" redefined the new breed of European house, giving it an irresistable Balearic edge that only to be fair, Luomo could stand up to.

"We are Monster" however is nothing like "Rest" and plaudits should be handed to Mr Muller for not going down a path that many might expect him to. Is "Microhouse" dead now? Instead of glitch and the like, we've got guitars, disco and plenty of other unexpected influences in an album that doesn't grab at first listen, but provides so many little moments of satisfaction that slowly but surely you feel yourself drawn to it. Followers might immediately latch onto the last track "Pillowtrack", full of sinewy sequenced tropes that are his trademark, and also to the Clone-esque stomp of "My Hi-Matic" but in general this is a different angle from Mr Muller and we're richer for hearing it.