Goldfish – Three Second Memory

Label: Goldfish MusicScore: 8/10

South African duo Goldfish have earned a really solid reputation over the past few years for their high-octane, live approach to electronic music. It’s a sound that doesn’t necessarily lend itself to the album format, but on their latest long player, the wonderfully titled Three Second Memory, the boys emphatically remind us why they’re just as adept on stage as they are in the studio, with the album full of both obvious and hidden treasures from start to finish. 

Spanning an impressive 13 tracks, Three Second Memory is a full-on sound assault that joins the dots between electro, house and contemporary mash ups. Much like 2ManyDjs/Soulwax did some time ago, it’s a striking balance of sounds that works far better on the ear than it does on paper. The title track, is an obvious starting point, with its ‘’Remember Me’’ sample playing out alongside a gargantuan bassline and an urban twang that’s difficult not to get lost in. ‘’Followers of the Beat’’ has echoes of vintage Boys Noize about it, an approach that’s mirrored later on in tracks such as ‘’Drive Them Back to Darkness’’; a track, incidentally, that sees the boys call on their trusty saxophone to deliver the goods.

‘’Choose Your Adventure’’ is the LP’s highlight, with Emily Bruce’s lyrics peppering the album with a tangible pop sparkle.  The panache on ‘’One Million Views’’, meanwhile, is a crossover track that’s ripe for radio – and summer time in the Southern hemisphere. Taking a lighthearted perspective on the YouTube phenomenon, John Mani’s lyrics might be more autobiographical for the guys than they care to admit. Dutch rising star Bakermat turns in an exceptional remix that’s ripe for the dancefloor, as he reminds us why he’s been spoken of as one of 2013’s brightest stars. Indeed, the collaborative process is one that works wonders for the album, with Goldfish’s infectious beats regularly proving a harmonious marriage for repeat lyrical contributions from the likes of Monique Hellenburg and the aforementioned Emily Bruce. 

‘’Take Back Tomorrow’’ is another track that keeps its feet in various camps, as it basks in a glow and a breakdown that’ll prompt quite an impression on Goldfish’s captive live audience. Which, precisely, we gather, is the exact point of this album. There are numerous other notable moments (‘’Giant Leap’’ and ‘’Trees & Jets’’ being two such marked examples), and in all, this is a lighthearted take on electronica that’s hard not to raise a smile to. Where this sort of sun-glistened house music is concerned, Three Second Memory is a potent reminder of the boys proficiency in a domain they’ve practically come to define.