Televisor - Venture EP [Review]

Dance music has, mercifully, seen a move away from its most generic forms over the last year or two. Big Room is starting to die, Trap seems to have started its decline, and the worst excesses of Dubstep have gone. It feels like we're entering a new era of more thoughtful, progressive, melodic dance music, with newer genres like Indie Dance coming to the fore and flourishing.

Nowhere is this better encapsulated than in Televisor's latest EP, Venture. Of course, this is the road that Televisor have wanted to traverse from the outset, that of funk, and melody. With this latest release, they've refined those ideals and come up with something extraordinary.



For whilst it may be short, Venture is the most fun I've had listening to a record in a long time. It's not violent, or dramatic, or noisy, or grandiose - it's just fun. Somewhere along the way, we forgot that that's what Dance music should be about. Thank goodness we have artists like Televisor to show the way.

The EP gets off to a very strong start with opening track Find That Someone featuring the vocals of Richard Judge. I've already reviewed this track in greater detail than I will here, but the immaculate piano work, fantastic vocal turn and clever key change make this track one of the standouts of the whole EP. It drips with style, and is catchy like you wouldn't believe. Despite being released in March, it could easily be one of the tracks of the summer.

Venture goes from strength to strength with second track Deya. It's a much more downtempo number, which provides a welcome contrast in pace and makes for some incredibly easy listening. Televisor's skill lies in crafting a perfect blend of retro traits and modern production, and nowhere is that better displayed than here. With its perfectly placed bassline, delicious guitar licks and choppy synths, Deya is vibrant, colourful, and everything you want from an updated take on Disco. Add in the smooth vocals of Patrick Baker, and it's an instant winner.

Next, however, comes the slightly weak link in what is an otherwise immaculate collection. Break Loose just never quite hits the mark it's aiming for with its Chromeo-esque stylings. It should be sexy and slick, but the combination of Splitbreed's lyrics in the verses and the chorus vocals just doesn't quite mesh. It's another very well produced track, and some good clean fun, but falls short of the higher standard set on the other three tracks.

EP-closer Deluxe more than makes up for this minor blip, however. Another contender for a top summer track, the groove on this one is just superb - the kick drops out at just the right times, the synth work is spot on, and the marimba adds a tropical flavour that somehow manages not to become lost amongst everything else going on. That's a testament to Televisor's production ability, and their acute awareness of how to cherrypick the best aspects of certain styles and combine them to make one cohesive work. It's an incredibly feel-good note to end on, and does what every great album or EP final track should - it leaves you wanting more.

*****

Televisor have an absolute gem here in Venture. It takes everything you've come to expect from them, and refines the formula to form this all too brief EP. Even at it's weakest, Venture has the ability to make you move - even if that just means awkwardly shuffling in your chair - with an impeccable sense of style, and a groove that never relents. Do yourself a favour, and rediscover the fun that's been lacking in dance music with this excellent EP.

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Alex Simpson

Writer, musician, and all-round top guy. I set up Excited Octopus. Currently, I'm on a one man team. It gets lonely sometimes. But I don't mind, because I love you all.

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