Chromeo’s She’s in Control dropped in 2004, a seemingly anomalous holdover of electro-clash (not clash) amidst a rising tide of disco-punk. But of course, Chromeo weren’t so much a holdover from 2001 as from 1981—an homage to classic electro, freestyle, and new-wave synth funk. In a way, they worked two levels of nostalgia: the telescoping nostalgia for that which just occurred as well as a more generational nostalgia for those of us who were kids of the ’80s. So the timing was pretty much perfect for that album (and it didn’t hurt to get a big push from Vice at what may have been their perfect intersection of street-cred and market saturation). But now Chromeo are releasing Fancy Footwork, their sophomore full-length, in the height of a wave of ’90s nostalgia—typified by the return of the “rave” aesthetic, the filter house/big beat of Ed Banger et al, and all manner of ’90s indie rock heavyweights on the reunion tour circuit. And, to their credit, Chromeo haven’t changed a thing, save for glossing up the production a bit and leaning more on the synths than the guitar. Yesterday, somebody— Jonathan maybe—expressed some doubt as to whether Chromeo could do well with another album of the same sort of stuff or if they’d be dismissed as a novelty act that had already done their bit. But from what I’ve heard of the new record, I wouldn’t worry any about Dave 1 and Pee Thugg. So they choose to work within pretty well defined, even vintage stylistic boundaries—they still write funny, funky songs that are amusing at home or on headphones and functional floor-fillers at the club. The album’s title track is an early favorite, thought “Bonafied Lovin’” and “Momma’s Boy” are also pretty great.

Chromeo play Sing Sing’s 1 Year Anniversary Party with Flosstradamus @ Chop Suey on July 20th (as mentioned in these comments). I missed them last time through town, but I’ve been assured that they’re fucking rad live and I can’t wait to find out.

Chromeo - “Fancy Footwork” (Myspace)