Video: Simian Mobile Disco: "Sleep Deprivation" (live in Philadelphia)
When UK electro-pop duo Simian Mobile Disco played at Pitchfork's SXSW day party, they had a sign making it clear this was just a DJ set. Their proper live show swathes the crowd in blinding lights as SMD's James Shaw and James Ford monkey around with knobs and dials. "Sleep Deprivation", the opener from the group's highly recommended debut Attack Decay Sustain Release, can be seen here starting off their recent set at Pure in Philadelphia. At first it's all darkness and high-pitched squeaks; audience members don't have much to dance to, but there are still plenty of hands thrown in the air. When the drum sounds kick in, so do multi-colored lighting arrangements, and SMD get down to the business of keeping everybody on the block awake. Nice work if you can get it.
[original track from Attack Decay Sustain Release; out now in Europe on Wichita, and due 09/11/07 in North America on Interscope]