There's no question that the electronic scene in this country is making huge waves which are permeating from their niche nooks through to the mainstream consciousness. Without having to alter their DNA or water down the tunes they're making, artists such as James Blake, Deadboy and Mount Kimbie are creating some of the most enjoyable music released at the moment and with this debut album, the Kimbie duo of Kai Campos and Dominic Maker, the bar has been raised even further.

There was always the worry that after releasing the well received and genre-dismissing 12"s 'Sketch On Glass' and 'Maybes', Mount Kimbie would struggle to uphold the levels they'd laid down for themselves; the question of whether they would be able to draw out their fifteen minute EP magic into an eleven track full-length certainly hung in the air for those that were fans, if not for the artists themselves. But within the first couple of tracks of 'Crooks & Lovers', the question is answered, with the dusty sounds of 'Tunnel Vision' and 'Would Know' blowing away any doubts.

There's no point trying to discuss whether this is dubstep or not, that's immaterial, as they wind from laid back liquid vibes in tracks such as 'Carbonated', with its subtle bleeps and understated melody to 'Ruby' through to the likes of 'Mayor' which is as close to a banger as they'll ever make. Not concerned with how using a multitude of sounds will cause journalists to pigeon hole them, as is the media's continual wont, Campos and Maker simply make good music, with tracks that click into place amongst each other.

The standout tracks on the album typically come when they use vocal cuts to enhance their beats. The aforementioned 'Mayor' is a prime example, starting as it does with some filtered vocals coming as if from the room next door, before becoming the centre piece for the track which explodes into life with fuzz and percussive snaps. In other tracks, the vocals weave amongst guitars in 'Before I Move Off' and 'Adriatic', always giving an extra dimension to the already incredibly loaded instrumentation.

What becomes clear as the record gets repeat plays is that despite the complexity of the layers in each track, Kimbie never lose sight of the need for a tune in their songs. 'Crooks & Lovers' doesn't feature six-minute tracks with simply one bassline, one chord or one vocal sample. It features a depth rarely found in an artist or group so new, but which is applied with such expertise that it's forgivable for thinking they had been making music for decades. 

The album finishes with 'Between Time', which slows proceedings down with a rigid snare and whispered vocals which descend into near silence before the album comes to an end. It's the perfect way to close out a record that leaves the listener not only wanting more, but wanting to go back and pick up that drum loop or that hidden bass note that was so cleverly tucked away first time round. For fans of their previous work, this album is exactly what was desired and pushes further than could ever have been expected. Hot Flush continually put out great music, but it will be very hard for them to top this. Mount Kimbie deserve all the credit they receive for their debut album, truly a masterpiece of sound.

‘Crooks & Lovers’ is out 19th July through Hot Flush Recordings

http://www.myspace.com/mountkimbie

Words: Sam Hesketh