It’s the sound of people having a good time on the dancefloor. A meeting of the deranged minds of Stanley Manthyng (songwriter, vocalist, player of unspecified instruments) and DJ Stevolicious (production and vocals), with extra vocals by Lady Manthyng. As the release says, DJ Stevolicious makes ‘full-bodied beats’ that are ‘masterfully designed to trigger a dance response’. They pump and thump, while basslines worm through various filters and into your brain. The vocals might not always be terribly polished, but Stanley has an ear for a catchy phrase, and you will be unable to stop singing these songs to yourself after hearing the CD. The (slightly saucy) lyrics describe a ‘mardi gras of misfits’ over a variety of pounding electropop beats.

One wonders if many of the songs are drawn from real-life experiences in club land. Even if not, it’s clear that Stanley Manthyng knows how to start a party. Almost annoyingly catchy, his second studio album is a triumph of hooks and beats over class and polish, and I’m enjoying it immensely.

Beyond the Valley of the Ugly Boys by MANTHYNG