Monsters & Fairies CD

For their latest trip into the outer reaches of electronic music, Ivan Smagghe and Leon Oakey has recruited one-time Pleasant Vitality duo Save! Their formula is eccentric but intriguing, with poetic, spoken word vocals (and occasional sung parts, of course) riding a variety of weird and wonderful, synth-heavy grooves. Sometimes, these sail close to minimal wave territory, at other times they're more akin to, say Junior Boys. At one point, they even doff their cap to Balearic-influenced, reggae-pop (the odd but entertaining "Rainy Monday"); throughout, their imaginative approach to production and songwriting shines through. Brilliantly, this CD version also includes the extended version of previous single "The Light".