Simian - We Are Your Friends

A damn fine LP from a band relatively unheard of until the 'Justice VS Simian' dance version of 'Never be Alone' which recieved hours upon hours of play in clubs and on the radio. That version is not particularly one for me but the original, well, that's something else. I would recommend that anybody who has never heard Simian to give them a proper listen. This LP is soooo much better than any dance version. I know that has instant accessibilty to younger crowds and the masses in general but the original has the beginning the middle and the end. The LP has so many 'big' tracks on it that I always play when playing a set in theb right environment and cant resist playing 'Never be alone' (more commonly known as 'we are your friends') to people that have never heard it because it has an instant feeling of having heard it before (even though you havent) and then the chorus kicks in and you know what you are listening to. The addition to that chorus is the superb harmonies which have been removed from the stripped dance version (which afterall, only has the chorus anyway). I know I have ranted about that one track but the album has many fantastic tracks on it. There is something great about having an LP that is unheard by many but at the same time, they deserve to be right up there. You wont be able to stop listening to this. Very catchy and superb production. Brian Eno after all has a vested interest and lent Simian equipment and advice on the album (so the sleevenotes say anyway). Buy it, try it and put it high on your list of wicked newish guitar bands.

Well, for many groups it doesn't take long to piss away their decent starts, so why should it be any different with Simian? 'We Are Your Friends' is a silly charmer but lacking ambience of the debut album, with typically irritating pieces like 'Skin' ('I want your eyes, I want your lies... - yeah, right)...

Credits to Brian Eno or highlights like 'La Breeze' or 'Sunshine' do little to lighten up the rest of the album radiating with cliches rather than giving us a feeling of warmth and beauty...

2.8/5