Published: Tuesday, 2nd September, 2008 6:30pm

ALBUM REVIEW

by Matt Meade

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CRUISER – happyrobots:smilingpeople (KFM Records)

Cruiser

Happyrobots:smilingpeople is a great album, but shouldn't be.

Track titles like Retrogamer, Happy Robots and Reboot make you think it's going to be a bit, well, passé.

After all, singing about technology and robots is curiously old fashioned.

On first listen the songs sound aimless, not in an unpleasant way, just that they might never reach their destination – they have to be going somewhere right?

But Dunfermline band Cruiser aren't dafties – they make you listen at their own pace, which very few bands have the nous or courage to do.

They have crafted a delightfully sublime and light electronic pop album that belies ill-considered song title choices.

Recorded in Tokyo, Amsterdam, Minneapolis and Dunfermline, the follow up to Northern Electric features collaborations with Peel veterans Persil, Tokyo singer Mayuko and America's Tiger Tiger.

Stay Here Instead is pretty near perfection, while Happy Robots is a strong future single choice.

Savvy soft drink firms should use the dangerous repetition of Sunshine Warrior to help sell their energy/sports based orange drinks because the punters would be buying it in bulk.

Such a thoughtful and simple album deserves considered listening.

So how will you choose to listen to it? On your tinny tiny little laptop?

On your iPod competing against mindless chatter on a noisy bus?

It doesn't really matter; it will be relayed in your own head after countless and enthusiastic playbacks.

4/5