Prinzhorn Dance School - Seed, Crop, Harvest

Prinzhorn Dance School’s self-titled album confused a lot of DFA acolytes back in 2007, its minimalist post-punk seeming a strange fit with a label better known for The Rapture’s cowbell-infused antics, collections of lengthy remixes and (obviously) the work of boss James Murphy’s LCD Soundsystem. This was a duo whose mere existence was questioned at times: was it a joke?

Thankfully it wasn’t, and if ‘Seed, Crop, Harvest’ (plus pleasantly pulsating B-side ‘Off The Radar, Off The System’) is any measure of what’s to come from the pair in 2011, the second Prinzhorn Dance School long-player should prove itself spot-on, and a worthy continuation of what the debut started. It’s more mundane observation, repetition beyond the point at which it becomes absurd, and spaces just as important as the noises which interrupt them. It’s crisper than before, however; Tobin’s vocals in particular are sharper, the bass less raw and more powerful - towards the end of the track it’s even tempting to use the term ‘epic’ to describe it. We wouldn’t: it’s got too many negative connotations.

Bonus points must also be awarded for releasing a track which appears to celebrate autumn in place of mourning summer. Hooray for autumn!