The Presets - Apocalypso

The Presets – Apocalypso

Australian dance music is as big as ever at the moment, with bands like Cut Copy, Midnight Juggernauts and Pnau getting international recognition and success. The Presets; formed of Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes have sold out shows across the globe, including some of the world’s biggest festivals.

In 2005 The Presets debut album ‘Beams’ was released, including songs such as ‘This Boy’s In Love’ and ‘Are You The One?’, with their electro-gothic undertones, bringing a taste of something truly unique to the table. The release of ‘Apocalypso’ in 2008 didn’t fail to impress, nor bring something new to the Australian electronic scene for the second time. The album has no ‘filler’ tracks; every track produced impeccably with a unique twist. The album opens with the gothic electro style somewhat familiar to ‘Beams’ with ‘Kicking and Screaming’, however, the album concludes with the euphoric trance track ‘Anywhere’, a classic that would get anybody moving towards the dance floor.

The lyrics are catchy and powerful; Hamilton’s voice is projected effectively in every song, cleanly, a sound familiar to that of Tom Smith’s strong vocals. Every song is crafted beautifully, whether it’s through the clean sound of Hamilton’s vocals or through choppy, fast paced samples. This album is highly entertaining and refreshing - certainly worth a lot of attention; hopefully The Presets will continue to create great music and gain the identity and attention they deserve.

Review By James Murray