Jonsson & Alter :: 2 (Kontra-Musik)

Poppy, house-spawned electronica from Swedish-born, Berlin-based duo Henrik Jonsson (also known as Porn Sword Tobacco) & Joel (Jor-El) Alter, head-clearing music recorded with terrific clarity and precision. 2 is their second go, honest, simple rhythms, each dancer’s step confident in grippy socks on a glistening floor. Darting, floating or weaving through sturdy beat pylons are synthetic bubbles, raygun beams, easy-going easy listening, a psychedlic flourish. A singer named Kazumi was invited to add pleasant gibberish on funky-dubby “Brevet Hem” (which appears in strictly instrumental form on vinyl). “Praha” is the most transportive moment, a glitterball aloft with no visible means of support. Though the sample of David Hasselhoff talking to his magic robot car on “Tuffa Sig” jarringly breaks the spell, Jonsson & Alter redeem themselves with a bit of stage talk from beloved Swedish troubador Evert Taube on the very next track, piano-driven, grizzled-edged disco named “Tribunen.” As bright and shiny and straightforward as a new penny.

2 is available on Kontra-Musik.