Polyamorous Affair - Bolshevik Disco

by Adrian Huggins

published: 26 / 9 / 2009

Label: Minimal Vinyl
Format: CD

Camp electronica from American duo, the Polyamorous Affair, which while bright and upbeat on the surface underneath is surprisingly dark and thoughtful

Review

LA-based duo, the Polyamorous Affair, have an interesting history. Their music has already made it onto the stage of style having been hailed by ‘queen blogger’ and all round twat Perez Hilton and has also been featured on US hit TV Show 'Ugly Betty'. These two references alone suggests that their music moves along the path of the fashion side of popular culture and has a camp edge, which when being self referenced as ‘electro-glam’ is quite fitting. The music itself, however, seems to me to be a little more three-dimensional and is by no means faddish or throwaway which is a good thing. The two members who make up Polyamorous Affair are Sissy Saint-Maire – who sounds like a scared French town - and Eddie Chacon...Ring any bells? Thought not. However if I were to say the following six words, 'Would I Lie to You, Baby?', the penny would then probably drop as Eddie is none other than the very same Eddie as in Charles and Eddie. How cool is that? Early 90’s hits aside, 'Bolshevik Disco' is not a bad collection of tunes if slightly camp electro is your thing. Excellently produced the songs sound fantastic rather than simply being quickly knocked-out tunes by some people trying to cash on the frankly awful current 80’s re-hashing that seems to be sweeping the world at the moment. 'Bolshevik Disco' does not sound like this. It has a refreshing new and airy sound about it. Opening number, ‘The Interrogation Cintroo’, starts out with a space mission style count down. You begin to worry that it is going to be something of a novelty record, with its talking and almost futuristic circus sounds, but it quickly gets going, as does 'Face Control' also, with some thumping beats and Korg wizardry. This is where you first realise what the duo are all about, providing atmospheric but gently intense electro which in places almost feels quite dark. Things go a little downhill with ‘Fashion’, which verges on being a bit too much of a stereotype of the type of music on show here, all draped in bright colours. One can imagine horribly skinny people with bad haircuts hopping around trying to look like they’re having fun. ‘New York City’ brings 'Bolshevik Disco' back on track. It is a yearning love song as seen through the eyes of someone who is missing someone while seeing all the awful things in their world at that moment. It is this broody and loving simplicity that the duo seem to do well. I would imagine this would appeal to fans of such acts as Pet Shop Boys, Goldfrapp and also some of the more down beat moments of the likes of Justice. For something that on the surface may seem quite bright and up front, ‘Bolshevik Disco’ is underneath much more dark and thoughtful.