Chromeo

Chromeo will thoroughly violate your ironic distance, then grind over-enthusiastically on your leg. And you will like it. The duo of Pee Thug and Dave 1 are back with Fancy Footwork, a sparkling sophomore album that will seduce even those who were put off by their first LP.

Fancy Footwork manages to be both a parody of and a tribute to the glammy, metro-masculinity of Purple Rain-era Prince and Thriller-era MJ. It's full of sensual and ostensibly macho lyrics—"nevermind an SMS / what you need is a sweet caress"—and sleek, superfly synths that burble in electric-pastel tones. The productions are smooth enough to be convincingly retro yet they also boast hefty bass and tight, forward drums that owe much to pair's hip-hop credentials.

There are plenty of a-ha moments: "Tenderoni," "Call Me Up" and "Fancy Footwork" are floor-filling synth pop at its finest. But it's on the oddities that Dave 1 really showcases his wry wit and beguiling delivery. The standout is "Momma's Boy," a hilarious ballad about Oedipal urges set to slinky keys and a Casio preset beat. Keyboardist Pee Thug gets his chance to shine on "My Girl Is Calling Me (A Liar)," where he gives Dave a vocodered pep-talk.

The whole package here is so slick that it's easy to forget that camp this good is really tough to pull off. A misplaced sax or clunky fill and it would melt into a saccharine puddle of satire. They've hit the spot, though, with a maddeningly catchy and hilarious record that pretty much compels you to shake something.

—Toby Warner
06.22.07

Back with a slicker set of moves and immaculately groomed hooks, on Fancy Footwork Chromeo are in even more control of their sound than they were on She's in Control. The duo's debut was undeniably fun, but it was such a slave to the rhythm that, at times, it was numbing; on this album, Chromeo take their electro textures and funky beats in a very pop direction, topping them with memorable melodies and witty lyrics. From the tongue-in-cheek drama of "Intro" -- which conjures visions of Chromeo ascending the stage from a cloud of dry ice -- Fancy Footwork builds on everything that made previous singles like "Needy Girl" good dirty fun. "Tenderoni" is a great example of the album's tighter, glossier sound and swivel-hipped rhythms, while "Fancy Footwork" itself boasts growling, squealing, and purring Moogs and a percussion breakdown made for busting a move. And, by trimming the fat off their tracks, Chromeo have made more room for knowing, entendre-laden fun. "Momma's Boy," with its instantly lovable electric piano riff and lyrics about finding your sweetie eerily similar to your folks, is a funny, catchy, twisted update on the Hall & Oates-style pop that the band loves so much. Skit-like humor seeps into "Call Me Up," which pauses while a girl looks around for Chromeo's phone number, and "My Girl is Calling Me (A Liar)," which ends with a brief conversation between Dave One and a talkboxing Pee Thug. Elsewhere, Dave and Pee show their sensitive side: "Bonafied Lovin" shows them taking more time to court a conquest, and the "Needy Girl" sequel "Opening Up" finds them trying monogamy -- and liking it. Even though Fancy Footwork's grooves aren't quite as deep as those on She's in Control, Chromeo's transformation into polished Lotharios with pop skills to match more than makes up for it. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide