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Enhanced
Editorial Review:
Effectively the solo project of New York based DJ and producer Andy Butler, with the help of some interesting friends, Hercules and Love Affair is , unlikely though it sounds, the point where classic disco meets classical myth--the title apparently refers to the legendary hero's fondness for his own sex. Although co-produced by LCD Soundsystem's Tim Goldsworthy, Hercules and Love Affair is a flightier, more hedonistic proposition, filled with echoes of long gone clubs and ghosts of the pre-AIDS glory days of New York's gay scene. Yet it celebrates rather than mourns the past as a series of guest vocalists leave their mark, Antony Hegarty the most familiar. The terrific, irresistible single "Blind", reportedly some four years in gestation, stands out but the wistfully positive "Raise Me Up" isn't far behind, Hegarty's inimitably sad tones incongruously juxtaposed with a gleeful arrangement. Though even his voice has a hard battle with the lift from Frankie Knuckles's classic "Your Love" which underpins the opener "Time Will". The spaced out jazz of "This Is My Love", sung by Butler himself, the dizzily ecstatic house of "You Belong", the purest of flashbacks, and Kim Ann's vocal turn on the elegant "Athene" are other highlights on a remarkably assured and entertaining first effort. This year won't see a better example of danceable melancholy than Hercules and Love Affair. --Steve Jelbert
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.0 / 5.0
Don't Believe the Hype; Don't Believe the Backlash Either. Whatever impressions you may have gotten from lead single 'Blind', its best to approach this album with an open mind (as with most things). Whilst Hercules & Love Affair do take their lead from disco music, the scope of the songs is much broader, embracing minimalistic techno and torch-balladry to creating a heady and eclectic tracklist. They might not always produce up-tempo, dance-floor friendly hits, but to criticise Hercules & Love Affair for such a thing would be unfair, not to mention... more info
Not an album to please from start to finish, but where it's good it's very good. I would give this 3.5 if i could, but i'm giving it 4 because some people reviewing it seem to be overly critical.
I think the first half of the album (1-5) is excellent, with the obvious peak being that of Blind. It's a disco 'influenced' album which means a move from the really harsh dance music sounds that seems to be considered music at the moment. Some tracks are purely instrumental which makes parts of the album seem slightly one dimensional. It's rhythmical without being incredibly creative,... more info
Don't judge any book by its cover, let alone a record I'm really surprised by many reviews here mentioning the supposed disco influence on this record. To me, it's rather more paying tribute to early Vince Clarke stuff, Visage or even Soft Cell than to any late 70's disco act... And please, to the reviewer who thinks disco SHOULD be uplifting, I advise you to listen carefully to "There But For The Grace Of God", "Born This Way" or "Is It All Over My Face" (that are mostly incendiary, politically charged records, rather than po-faced whitey dancey stuff for... more info
Blind is awesome....the album is not Basically i bought it....put it on and thought...o dear why did i buy this....even after listening to it a few times, it doesn't grow on you, the only song that saves it from disgrace is the song BLIND...
