Errors - Better late than never

Well if you missed it you certainly missed one of the electronic albums of the year in Errors 'Come down with me'. A follow up to the hit and miss first album they released in 2008 it has enough heavy hitters in its depths to clear the memory of Mr Milk and its Channel 5 associations. Having been carefully stewarded by label owners Mogwai their sound has grown to stand by itself, although to take in much of the subtlety a complete listen through or two is advised. Opener Bridge or Cloud is a symphonic start up evolving into a scratched noisescape before blowing out with a beat of such purity it could come from CBeebies. If that puts you off don't let it - the tuning of the band augurs well for things to come later in the album.



First single off the album is up next and a Rumour in Africa doesn't let itself be cowed. With an insistently muted guitar line and screeching synth sax it is fused to the rest of the album by that omnipresent soundscaping the group does so well. Yet the single for all its appeal lacks something fundamental that the next track provides in spades. Supertribe. Harking back to the Tour de France feel of electronic greats this pulsing and energetic track manages to also get in a hint of mystery. This aural confusion gives the song obvious layers but it possesses what Rumour in Africa does not; a piece of heart, of soul that endows tremendous personality on the song. Like a steam train on pills.



Other stand out tracks include the Omega Man apocalyptic nightmare of Jolomo which rains down a smattering of comet like effects before purposefully introducing its slanting synth. I swear its familiar? The playful dreams of Germany and Sorry about the Mess provide a lighter interlude but rarely seem to make the jump to a higher level of meaning. They are.....pleasant. That is all.

Capping off the album however is a piece of bravado and drive that thoroughly enjoys itself with the formula that sustains the whole album. A breezy opening leads to a dwindling and diminution of sound. The crystalline electro beeps that follow presage a typical rock riff bolted fairly clunkily onto the remainder of the track but you know what? It works and gives the album just under 6 minutes of its most invigorating moments. Just a pity that the album follows the structure of the songs - confident start, strong end and saggy middle. If their next album can stop the middle aged spread of the central 4 songs it could be a real treat.