aaamusic | On 20, Sep 2010

Maximum Balloon’s self-titled debut is the brainchild of Dave Sitek, producer and founding member of TV On The Radio. Sitek’s been busy behind the scenes of an eclectic set of records over the past decade, producing the likes of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Scarlett Johansson, Holly Miranda and Liars, among others. This marks his first venture into solo work, though he’s joined by a few familiar faces. His list of contributors is impressive, ranging from band mates Kyp Malone and Tunde Adebimpe to Karen O herself. The diversity of talent on show here is reflected on the album itself in no small part – each and every track is incredibly different from the last, though somehow all retain the levels of quality and innovative you’d expect from a Sitek record. Where electro pop tracks like Tiger and Groove Me leave little doubt in anyone’s mind that crafting a catchy tune is no trouble for Sitek, almost as soon as you think you’ve got your head around Maximum Balloon’s sound, the tone jumps to a more indie feel with Young Love, featuring the voice of Celebration’s Katrina Ford. A few tracks later and you find yourself faced with the beautiful falsetto of Holly Miranda on the trippy, emotionally charged The Lesson, before being transported somewhere else entirely with Apartment Wrestling. By the end of the record you’ll come to a conclusion you probably should’ve already known by now – Dave Sitek is a very, very talented man.

Katharine Sparks