A band name like Sugar & Gold may conjure up some sort of image of party-rockers, prone to disco freakouts and fun times. In the case of this particular band, that mental visage certainly holds true. See that picture up there? Yeah, that’s the kind of music you’re in for, and I’ll be damned if it’s not catchy.
These guys seemingly came out of nowhere, but their debut full-length Get Wet! suggests a band that’s been at this for quite some time now. A fully realized mishmash of electro-funk, disco backbeats, and indie pop, it’s both instantly accessible and multi-layered, rewarding repeat listening. The cheese-factor is part of the appeal; it wouldn’t be a good disco record without laying on the kitsch, and it’s tastefully done without going too far overboard.
Opener “Feels Like Fire” has an immediacy to it that belies its level of depth. A promiscuous good time is essentially the name of the game, and S&G want you to be a part of it. It’s sort of like Ssion’s Fool’s Gold, especially in the vocals and lyrics — “It feels like fire / and I’m drowning in your flame / don’t even know your name.” Later, the excellent “It’s All Over You” and “Bodyaches” scatter blips and beeps a la Hot Chip while utilizing twinkling synths. Call-and-response vocals are in full abundance throughout the album, and if some records were built to make you dance, Sugar and Gold want you to dance, shout, shake the walls, make out with the person next to you, get drunk and savor every moment of it.
Get Wet! is a hedonistic, fun-as-hell record that will surely be on repeat for the entirety of my summer. If !!!, Hot Chip, Ssion, most 70′s disco and 80′s new wave are your thing, I couldn’t recommend this more.
Check the video, download some tracks, and catch them on tour. Get Wet! comes out 4/27 on Antenna Farm.
