Have all the good band names already been taken, forcing new bands to come up with silly names like Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Viagra Boys or Django Django? Had Django Django’s self-titled debut not been suggested to me as part of the 1001 Albums Challenge, I wouldn’t have touched this album with a barge pole because the band name is so silly. I would indeed have missed out on something. Instead of the expected Mexican spaghetti western hip-hop mariachi band, Django Django play a compelling mix of art rock, neo-psychedelia, and experimental electronic pop. It's as if Pink Floyd had recorded an album of Talking Heads covers with the Beach Boys, produced by Godley & Creme. Amazing! I was already starting to feel like a grumbling boomer who rejects all new music and repeats 'Everything was better in the old days' like a mantra and would rather celebrate the umpteenth re-release by old heroes, who are just out to rake in the cash, than give new bands a chance. Et voilà: Django Django play a wonderfully relaxed, modern take on art rock, subtly nodding to their genre's roots without blandly copying the past. I’ve already dived into the rest of the band’s discography, and they seem to have perfected and developed their sound further. This debut, however, is a very strong start. Highly recommended!
