When they recorded their debut, and self-titled album, they did so by patching up whatever drums they had, and various musical paraphenalia. It was a home recording for all intents and purposes, made on a PC, and yet it resonated very strongly with the more sophisticated, 60s art-pop and psychedelic fraternity (a large group of people it seems make up the psychedelic scenes, in the most general of senses, always alive and well here in the UK) culminating in sold out tours, and a Mercury Music nomination, which took them to another level altogether, and taking not least the band by surprise. These art students from Scotland, Ireland and Yorkshire have spent a considerably longer time (18 months) and with all the equipment they need, in a 'proper' studio, in recording the follow up, Born Under Saturn. But, in the process, Django Django haven't deviated much from the sound that earned them such high praise in the first place. It's been a wise decision, for they easily demonstrate that there is plenty left in their creative banks. They have, of course, enhanced the sound; it's a fuller production throughout, with extra raviness and synths to add texture and danceability.

Music and Art does seem to run through the blood of drummer, producer and songwriter David Maclean. Not only is he the brother of John, a founder member of fellow Scottish art psychedelic rockers The Beta Band, but David like John, went to art college, and it was while at Glasgow School of Art that the seeds of Django Django were born, although initially David was more interested in develop the production side of his skills, and not being a live performer. Eventually a band coalesced around David and singer and guitarist Vincent Neff, the demand to play live grew, and off they went. It's a great story; an unmanufactured, organic band that found its feet through much trial and error, and becoming an unexpected success.

And so to When Saturn Returns, a reference to an art theory book about artistic temperament. Their musical temperament remains largely the same, generally easy going rhythms and textures, topped off by their distinctive harmony singing, albeit bearing more than a passing resemblance to mid-late 60s Beach Boys, side-by-side with sparse percussion, electronic dance music, 60s surfesque guitars and west coast vibes. A big difference this time around, apart from the fuller production, is that many of the songs contain choruses, something lacking from the first album, which in hindsight, they felt was a bit bodged. On songs such as First Light, there's a pulsing synth a la Giorgio Moroder, but taken down a couple of notches for a less elevating experience, before the verse comes in, always featuring a melodic top line, and a chorus, all the while underpinned by the faintly dark synth and clattering drums. With the addition of a bridge and a short instrumental passage, it's a complete song, as are most on this album and in contrast to album number one, which was made up more of ideas, rather than solid structures.

On the equally splendid Shake and Tremble, they take off amongst a rumble of electronics, drum and bass before a stuttering guitar strum comes to the forefront and a terrifically meaty bass underpins it all. And the band are off, the more melancholic verse offset by a propelling chorus, before the Beach Boys aesthetic circa Pet Sounds, of bare percussion, and minimalist instrumentation, provides a bridge. It would fit in well with a pulp fiction film.

Elsewhere, Django Django tap into the deep and plodding bass of Massive Attack, some mild house music key stabs for Pause Repeat, a marvellous Brian Wilson style vocal on Reflections, and throughout their ear for melody and dynamics are very strong. It's largely impressive stuff, but it doesn't always work; Vibrations is a little weak, the disparate sections of the song not quite gelling as well as elsewhere, and the album is really much too long. The distinctive, choral harmony vocals, are everywhere, and they could have looked to mixing it up a little, perhaps even taking out the vocals for a song or two, such is the appealing way they craft the music.

Overall though, Django Django have still got their mojo mojo.

Jeff Hemmings

Website: djangodjango.co.uk
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