Buzzin Electronic Music

The Subs – Subculture – album review

The Subs: Subculture

The Subs are two DJs from Beligium, not that their name would suggest it. Their debut album Subculture is a relentless, ecstatic three-quarter hour electro-house party. With titles suggesting their music will be in a typically Belgian vein (‘Music Is The New Religion’, ‘Fuck That Shit’, ‘Kiss My Trance’), Subculture actually ends up surprising despite its cheesey moments and puts The Subs among the quality electro music that has been dominating both dance and indie scenes in the past couple of years.

It is little surprise to hear that The Subs have featured in DJ sets by Boys Noize, Fake Blood and Simian Mobile Disco, with their music containing the same crunchy drum beats and retro synths featured by these and other groups like Justice. And it must be said, if you dislike this genre, you’re unlikely to appreciate The Subs either. This is a true 90s revival (think Daft Punk, Chemical Brothers, Underworld) and they are not afraid to show it, with Subculture even featuring a potentially risky cover of The Prodigy’s Breathe.

Papillon and Tonic (the two members of The Subs) may have arrived a bit late in this 90s rave revival, then, but it doesn’t mean that their work lacks substance. Subculture, in fact, is an album in the true sense of the word. It hangs together really well, like one sweaty night, with intermittent breakdowns sections appearing in the middle of the album (In Cold Blood) after the intense and fluorescent electro opening of their singles Papillon, Music Is The New Religion, and Kiss My Trance. Tracks like this remain at a peak throughout, often promising to tip from their euphoria into disappointment, but they largely manage to sustain their pressure.

In fact, if you were to break down Subculture, then it is probably at these times when The Subs are at their best – basic, sustained euphoria. The cover of Breathe sounds a bit hollow, their attempt at doing something similar on the subsequent Fuck That Shit is stilted and lacks the hook of something so repetitive, and the closer From Dusk Till Dawn tries to incorporate a strange sort of electronica that doesn’t quite go with their previous analogue efforts.

Stand out tracks are all the singles except My Punk – they are highly charged and bursting, fitting well into any dance atmosphere. The Subs are riding the electro wave, it’s true, but there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be there with the others. Subculture is a really decent album, and it will surely gain them a good following on many a dancefloor.
Subculture is out now on Lektroluv. The Subs will be performing at festivals across Europe in the summer. See their MySpace page for more information.