Listen: Ecstasy (If You Want It) by Late Guest At The Party

Following on from two previous releases featured on BlackPlastic, December’s Ramblin’, and January’s In Defense Of Time, European-American electro-dance outfit Late Guest At The Party are back with a hot new single for summer.

In contrast to both Ramblin’’s taut, dubby, shuffling house, and In Defense Of Time’s slower, sun-cracked and electronic balladry, Ecstasy (If You Want It) pursues a more hedonistic sound.

Whilst Ecstasy retains the tight, square bass tones of Ramblin’, it combines them with the kind of looped piano riff that sits somewhere between classic Chicago house and UK rave culture. Punchy drums and emotive, earnest vocals give the overall song a polished sound, whilst knowingly demonstrating music geek chops — Late Guest At The Party know their musical references, and they enjoy showing them off. Once again, they are assisted by Joe Lambert, who has worked with DFA and Animal Collective, and many others.

My favourite moment in Ecstasy is the song’s bridge, which sees a clipped brass sound woven into the song’s mix, as a filter gradually obscures the song’s vocal. Once the drop kicks in, the song briefly basks in its own crisp simplicity for its closing moments. Sunny melodies and heartfelt vibes abound.

Listen: In Defense Of Time by Late Guest At The Party

Back on the pages of BlackPlastic after just a month, new single In Defense Of Time follows on from their nervous and insistent single Ramblin’.

Where Ramblin’ was liquid and fast, bristling with a sense of urgency, In Defense Of Time is more contemplative. The same love of analogue electronics, low-end bass and scattered percussion sits at the core of Late Guest At The Party’s sound. The difference here is that the group has employed these elements in service of a slower, more overtly emotional outcome. The song’s chorus is a slow build, bass tones and chords underpinning the central vocal hook, as it establishes the principal line, “I’ve got time, but I’m used to this distance, I’m used to indifference”.

The nature of the song itself reflects the theme of the song, and again, in contrast to Remblin’, In Defense Of Time is clearly unafraid of playing a slower, longer game. The result is as distinctive and catchy, but with an added sense of drama.

The band describe the song as being about past relationships:

‘(In Defense Of Time) is about the feelings of regret and reflection about the connections you have with your past romantic relationships. The bridge section describes the feelings after getting a text from and ex about seeing you out in public and not approaching you then.’

Check it out below:

Listen: Ramblin’ by Late Guest At The Party

European-American outfit Late Guest At The Party position themselves as ‘sad boy dance music’, which, for the record, is 100% my jam. Here on Ramblin’ they have partnered with Joe Lambert (DFA Records, and Animal Collective) on mastering duties. And the resulting record is about the journey that ‘often happens in your head’ whilst making music… An exploratory journey of creation, destruction, and reconstruction.

With warm bass notes that have a slightly squelchy, acidic feel to them, Ramblin’ pulses with a nervous energy. Lyrics fly in a stream, a sense of determination creating a propulsive energy as the synths morph around the song’s vocals.

In the middle section, Ramblin’, throws out a cacophony of clattering beats and glitchy electronics, a bridge that gives birth to the song’s closing third. A vocal refrain repeats the line, ‘I’m gonna live in my head’, as the song moves through a slack bass phase, the percussion morphing as the song seemingly hits every single beat possible.

The nerdy beauty on display on Ramblin’ calls to mind the kind of thinking person’s dance music popularised by Hot Chip. I can’t wait to hear more from Late Guest At The Party, whose groove, smarts, and emotion feel equally abundant.