On their second album, Israeli duo
Red Axes play a fuzzy hybrid of droning psychedelic pop and swinging techno, sounding a bit like
Death in Vegas with
Modeselektor's sense of humor. At their most hypnotic, as on the brittle "Paper Work," they sound like a DJ-friendly edit of
Silver Apples. Other tracks are sillier, such as "Tarzan Blues," which includes stretched-out Tarzan howl samples over a manic spy movie rhythm. The group does write a few straightforward psych-pop tunes, such as the smooth but sinister "What Is in Your Head." There are also excursions into paranoid psych-punk ("Relaxation [For Your Mind and Body]") and lounge music delivered with a wink and a smile ("Cooked Banana"). Following the jittery
Moroder homage "Shir 1" and the free jazz detour that ends "Talmood," the album concludes with the gentle acid lullaby "Into Your Arms." Equally focused on songwriting as well as studio hijinks,
Red Axes unmistakably sound like they're having a whole lot of fun. ~ Paul Simpson