If LCD Soundsystem got a regular gig as the house
band on Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, then brought the
mock-sunny influences of that whimsical sanctum
to a moonlighting gig scoring French New Wave cinema circa 1981,
the result might sound something like Javelin. And if duo Tom Van
Buskirk and George Langford sound like they scour the thrift stores
of Brooklyn for dusty Casios and drum machines on which to reconstruct
grooves inspired by equally dusty vinyl, it’s because they do.
Layering lush, sampled choral swells over chewy synth bass, the
opener “Vibrationz” skews towards the user-friendly chillout side of
what you’re about to hear. The debut single “Oh! Centra” combines
Mario-nostalgia synths with a chipmunk-processed rap lauding Centra’s
amorous prowess, whoever she is — blink and you’ll miss the
Salt ’n’ Pepa quote. “On It On It” is what Thomas Dolby would cook
up if he were 21 and spinning Ableton in a San Francisco Mission
hipster hive. Despite an undeniable underground feel, the album
never fails to be accessible and, well, pretty, from beginning to end.
Even if you don’t like No Más, you definitely won’t feel like it wasted
your time.