Adult DVD: Next Day Shipping
06/09/2024
Rearing their heads in 2021, dance-rock troupe Adult DVD are – like Kraftwerk raised on an English type of off-kilter banter – renowned for both their synth-filled tunes and evergreen humour. Previous releases, such as their debut EP, have circled around sweet, syrupy melodies that recall electronic titans like Aphex Twin.
Beginning with last year’s ‘Yacht Money’, however, their synth parts have become much more abrasive and techno-inclined, evoking Orbital and Underworld on top of previous resemblances. The six-piece’s latest EP continues to plunge into this sound, with a propulsive, wry wink of an electronic march that beautifully chimes with their worldview.
Do Something shows the band’s ability to compact Orbital’s lengthy, heady electronic jams into track-length, equally orgasmic bangers. Hot Set is as melodic yet discordant as the best from Soulwax; yet here Adult DVD distinguish themselves with added percussive explosiveness, showing the benefit of their live drums.
The lyrics play second fiddle to the fascination the mass of synths incurs, but their lightness keeps this relationship incredibly healthy, adding fun and never distracting from the addictive sonic intricacies. Memorable lyrical avenues, though, include Do Something’s pun-filled listing of unfulfilling hobbies, and Hot Set’s satisfying and lurid rhymes (“the cameraman sweats, smokes his cigarettes”). Doomsday Prepper attests to their fittingly breezy, almost nonchalant lyrical finesse – the shared vocals, wild lyrics, hedonistic guitar shredding and edgy synths sound like a rave as a backdrop to armageddon.
The synths come the closest to – but step back just before – reaching the point of over-saturation, with several, often thoroughly distinct, synths at once, causing an exciting friction. Final track ‘Dogs In The Sun’ is a good example, which also elevates the band’s production, setting their quintessentially melodic synths to loops and woozy vocal samples.
Next Day Shipping finds one of Leeds’ current greatest bands at a highly untamed creative peak, maturing in some ways while remaining mischievous in others – but this is a band we wouldn’t want to slip into maturity too much.
Follow Adult DVD on social media.
Get a copy of Next Day Shipping here.
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Words by James Kilkenny. Find more Louder Than War articles from him, here.
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