The Beat Surrender

CSS have their work cut out a little on their second album, as well as being the difficult second album that is so often talked about, they have the the nu-rave Posh and Becks tag to overcome, thanks to their singer Lovefoxx and her relationship with a Klaxon.

While the media have focused on her and the relationship somewhat in the last year or so (particularly the NME who seem fixated by it), it has been allowed to over shadow their music a little too much in my eyes. This may not be the bands fault and they do say there is no such thing as bad publicity, but for me its detracted away from taking CSS 100% serious.

Their first album was a dizzying ride through a dance crossed with rock sound that was imbibed with a sense of fun. It had the superb single Lets Make Love And Listen To Death From Above, which as a single is no easy act to follow for them on the new album.

Donkey still retains a sense of fun, still crosses the same influences as far as dance and rock go, but this time it seems to have an 80’s edge to it as well. They aren’t alone in harking back to that particular period, many bands seem to be doing it at the moment, but it does leave the sound feeling a little similar throughout this album.

That is my only real gripe with it, as an album it is cohesive and it does have a real feel good party vibe to the tracks, songs like the new wave pop of Rat Is Dead, the driving 80’s feel of Left Behind, the slinky groove of Reggae All Night and the funky guitar of Give Up are all good tracks.

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