A spot on BBC’s Sound of 2013 Poll, a collaboration with this years dance duo of the moment Disclosure and their 2012 I Know You Like It EP all pushed Aluna Francis and George Reid to the forefront of the latest pop wave.
Their highly anticipated debut album has all the right hallmarks to keep them there. Although Body Music’s greatest moments don’t necessarily involve hijacking the dancefloor or inducing anthemic sing-alongs.
In fact the album is considerably stronger when AlunaGeorge allow for the subtleties of their not so subtle electro RnB entitled pop to take precedence over speed and the heaviness of a beat. From the opener in ‘Outlines’ through to ‘Kaleidoscope Love’ and ‘Diver’ the duo tease through a slow groove that is undeniably sexy.
However that appeal falters through a mid section of emphatic repetition that overdoes its pop enthusiasm. ‘Lost & Found’ sounds like the victim of ecstasy abuse, while the choruses of ‘Best Be Believing’ and ‘Superstar’ aren’t quite strong enough to last the three minute distance.
Yet the up-tempo numbers first heard on their 2012 EP in ‘Just A Touch’ and ‘I Know You Like It’ successfully combine the duo’s swagger and RnB beats.
G-rated those tracks may be, but the tantalizing lyricism along with Francis’ sultry vocals demonstrate that the duo are at their best when on the topic of physicality.
The record’s final songs affirm as much. The title is track is a stunning four-minute opus, while closer ‘Friends To Lovers’ is an exquisite balladry ode to lusting over a friend.
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However ‘Attracting Flies’ and ‘Bad Idea’ counter the hormones with Francis’ adding some much needed to fire to the mix.
Body Music isn’t quite a pop music revelation as the few mid section inconsistencies demonstrate.
However there is no denying that AlunaGeorge harness their own unique energies and a release that sounds as fresh and as satisfying as this is somewhat of an anomaly in a pop world overrun by Guetta-risms.
