Swayzak – Loops From The Bergerie

Swayzak continues to explore new territory on their fourth album, LOOPS FROM THE BERGERIE, this time incorporating Kenny Paterson's guitar along with a new set of vocalists. "Keep It Coming" has that funky drive we've come to expect, but now with added twang (the twang is even more pronounced on "Snowblind"). Richard Davis brings a Brit-pop sensibility to his vocals on "Another Way," which sits uneasily against the electronic thumping underneath, whereas he fits in more to the spare-to-slamming "My House." The instrumental "Bergerie" has a easygoing twinkle above the thick layers, while the quiet throb of "Jeune Loup" is a steady trek through a snowy forest. Clair Dietrich reappears on "Then There's Her," a mellow track to carry her narration, while the jittery house of "8080" works Mathilde Mallen breathy utterances. "Speakeasy" breaks into the album as a surprise, a sudden turn towards fuzzy funk-rock -- a touch too out of place for my taste -- but "The Long Night" takes this idea, gives it a funky bass and some breaks, and lets it loose on the world to accompany Mallen's spoken word. Sure, in their outstanding discography, this album isn't as as immediate as their others, but it's worthwhile nonetheless.

I appreciate most of what Swayzak has done over their career, and LFTB is another interesting and often overlooked release of theirs. I'm sure it alienated plenty of tech house / minimal fans when it came out in 2004, but I heard it years later and enjoyed it for what it is - a fun, deep and mature album full of tight production and with a couple stand out tracks. For me the gem is Another Way, which has a bass drum that just demands to be blasted as loud as your stereo will allow. The vocals end up working well against this bass-heavy backdrop and marks a new chapter in the Swayzak sound. Also worth mentioning is the excellent artwork which is my favorite Swayzak cover in their discography. Perhaps not worth going crazy trying to track down, but definitely a solid buy if you come across it.

I have to admit that Loops in the Bergerie was a big disapppointment at the time, especially after listening to Dirty Dancing... Not as as catchy, not as powerful, I let that record on the side for some reason after only a couple (not so careful) listens.
Anyway a few years later (has it really been ten years almost?) I am finding a lot of depth in the sound and a lot of very good tracks in the album. Perhaps a big problem with Swayzak is the total lack of coherence in a single album. The band is great with singles, and does fantastic mixes, but has a definite problem in putting together a solid album (Dirty Dancing was that, but nothing came close after that).
Anyway listening to Loops again almost 10 years later, I find the album very good. It is not "in your face" stuff that gets immediate attention, but has a lot of depth and finesse. Bass is nice and clean, very british. Sonics are excellent (on par with the CD if not better, the female voices sound excellent on this vinyl edition.
Anyway, I recommend this record.
PS - I still miss tracks like Sob 1, one of my favourite mindless dance tracks of all times for some reason..

The most crushingly disappointing record I have ever bought. This may actually be a good record, if you like synth-pop/the Gigolo sound. If you are looking for something in a tech-house vein similar to Snowboarding... or Himwari, avoid this like the plague. Please God, may Swayzak never again make a record that sounds like this!