Shit Robot- We Got A Love

For some reason, German-based groove technician Marcus Lambkin, aka Shit Robot, is rarely mentioned whenever the current best Irish artists are discussed. Nonetheless, his debut album, 2010’s From The Cradle To The Rave, was one of the finest releases by a homegrown act in recent years. His follow-up, We Got A Love, is another superlative collection of addictive electro tracks, full of the kind of imaginative flourishes and stylistic panache that are the SR hallmarks.

Lambkin’s time in NYC some years ago found him hooking up with what would become one of the most influential scenes in modern music, namely the James Murphy-led DFA axis. The LCD Soundsystem figurehead doesn’t feature on the album, although the group’s drummer Pat Mahony does make an appearance (in the guise of Museum Of Love, his collaboration with Dennis McNany), as does LCD vocalist Nancy Whang. In addition, there are other familiar DFA artists and associates, such as The Rapture’s Luke Jenner and comic Reggie Watts. As he demonstrated during his appearance in LCD’s celebrated farewell show, Shut Up And Play The Hits, Watts is no mean vocalist, and he again excels on We Got A Love, delivering a terrific performance on the opening electro workout ‘The Secret’, and even approximating a soul diva on the house flavoured title track (an effect which works both musically and comedically).

Equally impressive are the funky, psych-flavoured ‘Dingbat’ (featuring Mahony and McNany), the thumping punk-funk number ‘Feels Right’ (a collaboration with Jenner), and the acid house tribute ‘Do It Right’, which boasts an appearance from hip-hop artist Liddell Towsend. But perhaps best of all is ‘Do That Dance’, a samba-flavoured effort with a typically infectious coval from Nancy Whang.

What odds Lambkin finally getting his due as one of Ireland’s foremost artists?