Electric Sound Of Summer

a decade in the making, fuxa comprising randall nieman, alongside tom meade and special guests - returns with nine songs of supercharged seasonal splendour. 'electric sound of summer' is perhaps nieman's most cohesive record yet, in that the ever-present swirling synthesisers and uplifting melodies have been perfectly blended to form a new kind of pop music. it is at once heart-warming and goosebump-inducing - an album of stirring contrasts. sophisticated guitar and piano lines share the sonic canvas with childlike, playful electronic experiments, evoking a spirit of both sun-blind optimism and wistful tranquillity.the album is notable for a trio of inspired cover versions. on daniel johnston's 'some things last a long time', britta phillips' (luna, dean and britta) sumptuous vocals retain all the fragility and poignancy of the original, like an ice maiden slowly melting in a heat-wave. elsewhere, sarah peacock (seefeel, scala) lends an eerie, claustrophobic air to 'our lips are sealed', turning the gogo's/fun boy three smash hit into a dark, menacing ode to secrecy and jealousy. the reverse effect is achieved on fuxa's version of suicide's 'cheree,' whereby nieman transforms the sparse, sensuous classic into an altogether more uplifting, hair-raising anthem, bubbling with dynamic, stomping drum patterns and dean wareham's (galaxie 500, luna) reverb-rich vocals. alongside the album's ecstatic track 'marty suicide', 'cheree' is the ultimate tribute to those torchbearers of synth-laden, sinister lullabies, alan vega and martin rev, with whom nieman has collaborated in the past.bwhile the cover versions act as a centre piece of sorts - a day glo triptych showcasing the versatility of nieman's particular brand of pop.