aaamusic | On 10, Jul 2011

Liverpudlian duo Robots in Disguise comes back after three years of silence, releasing fourth album Happiness V Sadness. The band, joined by the always-faithful drummer Ann Droid, represents the same winning recipe of quirky lyrics, duet-like vocals, and synthesizers.

From the nostalgic first single Chains, that opens the album as well, to the bouncing beats of the Blur-esque Don’t Go, RiD seem to be unable to depart from a style that has already offered its best. Title track Happiness V Sadness should represent the apex of the album; on the contrary, annoys with an irritating refrain and a childish drum-machine.

Dee and Sue throw away their great talent, seen especially in their first and third album, persevering in this Le Tigre and Bikini Kill revival, although lacking both resolute tone and political content. Apart from some glimpse of the golden past coming out of Lies, a band that had the potential to become the new Sleater Kinney sounds like the dumb cousins of Ladytron and Stereo Total.

In desperate need of a change.

 

Author: Lorenzo Coretti