Disco For Today
On Shake the Shudder, Chk Chk Chk have brought some great grooves with them, producing tracks that sound as if they’re straight out of the seventies. With that being said, the group still bring some modern sensibilities to these old styles that influence them. Chk Chk Chk mostly succeed with their upbeat instrumentals and groovy baselines, which help this project to make an indelible impression. It is a feat for such a long-running act to put together such a memorable record. Chk Chk Chk have been going for twenty years and they still got it.
From the first track, “The One 2,” one can hear the style that Chk Chk Chk are going for on this album. Everything in the mix comes together to create a perfect, moody dance track about love. With the strong vocals and funky beat driving it forward, this is a great opener. They follow this up with “Dancing Is the Best Revenge.” This song features a strong bass line that carries the whole track. In comparison to the opener, it has a simpler house beat, but Chk Chk Chk still manage to create a certain sense of progression with their guitars and the exhilarating vocals featured on this track. “Our Love U Can Get” is definitely one of the most memorable songs on this album. It absolutely nails the disco sound, while also sounding fresh. The beat, melody and vocals are all top-notch. On top of that, they manage to tell a bit of a story when paired with the vocals.
Some of Shake the Shudder‘s tracks definitely showcase a clearer, contemporary deep house influence, such as “What R U Up 2Day,” but these numbers fit well with other tracks with clearer disco influence. Their use of sampled vocals on “What R U Up 2Day,” combined with its impressive guitar work, creates one of the most experimental songs on the album, one that still manages to be enjoyable. However, the child’s voice on this song might annoy listeners, at points. Another track that stands out for being different is “Things Get Hard,” which definitely has a stronger punk influence than most of Shake the Shudder. The bass line is funky, but also a bit abrasive, which adds to the harder tone of this song.
Chk Chk Chk have done a great job taking in a lot of influences on this album to create something new. There is something for everyone on Shake the Shudder, whether it is influenced by disco, house or punk. Hopefully they keep up the good work in the future.
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