Originally released in 2003, Songs for Creatures was the debut album from Paul Mogg and Pablo Clements under their Psychonauts moniker. A lot has changed in the intervening seven years, and although the album made a distinct impression on the likes of James Murphy and DJ Hell, who both name checked the album as an influence, it was not picked up on by the wider public. Perhaps the smorgasbord of new wave, folk and progressive elements was too much for fans of Gigolo who released the album, or too far removed from what the pair were doing previously at Mo Wax to appeal to existing fans. Or perhaps, it was so forward thinking and ahead of it's time, that it wasn't ready to be accepted into a clubland dominated by electro-clash and loop techno. Whatever the reasons, I cant think of many other noughties albums so deserving of a reappraisal.
From the electronic ripples and washes of 'Wild in your Eyes' which combines modulated clicking rhythms with a flute and not much else, to the next realm dreaminess of 'Take Control' and 'Life's Sweet Charger' - both bringing to mind the early works of Danish progressive's Mew - Songs for Creatures follows it's own meandering path through what can broadly be called psychedelica.
Lush layers of sound envelop you completely on the likes of 'Takes Control;, yet there is still room for up a curve ball or two along the way. Taking the bones of Unknown Mix's no wave album cut 'The Siren' 'Empty Love' practically drips electronic sleaze out of the speakers and into your ears with what is effectively a pretty simple edit, a good 5 years before they were all the rage.
Balancing complexity with a light touch, across it's 12 Songs for Creatures is an immensely enjoyable album, indelibly marked by it's breadth of fantastic songs. Sure, its overlooked status and vintage gives it a certain cachet, but the fact it stands so tall in a contemporary context is what really hammers home what an amazing album this is.
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