For all of electronica’s current retro-80’s new wave posturing, at last we have a band who seem to embrace the ethics of the 80’s but concentrate on songwriting rather than imagery. Rhythm King And Her Friends provide an urban commentary on work, life, culture and queer politics, set to steady drum loops, sparkling keyboards and deadpan garbled vocals.

The opening track, Sister, has a remarkably punky feel, and an addictive acoustic guitar strum, this would have been a smash hit in the early eighties. Shock sounds like early Sheep On Drugs, as the simplistic haunting analogue keyboards bend and spiral around persuasive, chanting vocals. This has real atmosphere. Client Interne modernises their production, relying more on programming and percussion. Rhythm King AHF also bring live bass and guitar into the mix, to give an earthy, quirky feel. Sometimes they sound like a bedroom band, deliberately underproduced to give their message a more authentic feel.

The vocals on I Am Disco switch vigorously throughout, mixing elements of Euro-vogue, American drawl and London surburbia, it’s an incredibly eclectic mix, but Rhythm King AHF definitely have strong European avant-garde influences igniting them. Tracks such as Coraloid totally confound. An instrumental piece, removed completely from the rest of the album, using heavy sampling and elements of jazz. The track flows into Copie Moi Je Veux Voyager, an anthemic, angry slice of electro-clash, sung in French – with a grungy analogue bassline driving the track. Meanwhile, tracks such as Yvonne, with its crude, filthy analogue squelch makes a mockery of today’s pristine electro posers, headed by bands such as Client.

As the album closes it gets even more frenetic, Pants is an excellent track, featuring a rich soup of clattering drum loops, groovy basslines, quirky guitar slides and gorgeously sublime slabs of electro-funk. I Am Disco simply demands to be heard. It’s atmospheric, authentic, inventive, creative, and distinctly addictive. It also crosses a variety of styles and genres with ease. It’s strong eighties influences will have retro-enthusiasts jumping for joy, yet it retains a remarkably chic, contemporary feel that will appeal to anyone interested in modern electronic music.