Electric Fist – Lift EP

German duo Digitalism have been masters of getting party-goers on the dance floor, ever since the release of Idealism in 2007 and up until the more recent I Love You Dude in 2010.

The Electric Fist – Lift EP provides a sneak peek at the direction they could take into the future – and surprisingly, it’s underwhelming.

Jens Moelle, one half of the duo, said in a 2007 interview with Dubspot, “We started making music simply because we wanted to have something that other people wouldn’t have.” He lamented that most releases were too similar and wanted to break that trend.

While the EP is full of harmonious synths and an upbeat overall sound, it’s very much a dime-a-dozen effort. At the risk of making Digitalism victims of their own high standards, remains a fun but fairly forgettable 10 minutes of listening.

‘Lift’ (Feat. The M Machine) showcases the euphoric build up and kick that we’ve come accustomed to. The looped vocals are a nice touch, but it’s all a bit repetitive.

‘Dudalism’ (Feat. Steve Duda) is a strong track that wouldn’t be out of place on either of their first two LPs. Its deep sound lures you in to a climax that is both chaotic yet somehow measured.

Closer ‘Electric Fist’ is sure to please those who like a boogie, but may not impress hardcore fans. Much like ‘Lift’, it’s repetitive and lacks the usually distinctive Digitalism sound.

Brief and lacking the duo’s early appeal, it’s an enjoyable EP but nothing to write home about.

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