Following several eclectic, ambitious albums that often center around a bizarre, P-Funk-esque self-created mythology, Norwegian duo
Mungolian Jet Set took a break from crafting their fifth full-length opus and issued
A City So Convenient, a comparatively stripped-down four-song EP of shimmering cosmic disco. The record is fun and groovy without being as cheeky or gimmicky as their usual material. The duo's lush, detailed tracks feature calmly percolating grooves along with playful arrangements for sax, pianos, and wah-wah guitars. Opener "Quintessential Trips to Bergen" would work well on a dancefloor, but it sounds like it was made for a cruise through a Jetsons-like space metropolis in a funky rocket ship. The EP's title track is a bit more wistful, with a gentle IDM-like melody and bowed strings. Eventually, it switches up to a flashy, more sophisticated arrangement, mixing disco strings with early-'90s rave synths. Both tracks on the EP's B-side are variations on the same theme, and they seem to combine Space's "Magic Fly" with
Inner City's "Good Life," resulting in sleek, slightly mysterious space disco with a hint of rave ecstasy. ~ Paul Simpson