The Norwegian duo
Datarock
worship at the twin altars of spastic '70s
dance-rock
,
Devo
and
Talking Heads
, both of whom inform their album debut (which includes tracks stretching back at least four years). Like their major influences, however,
doesn't use humor as a crutch but instead as a coat rack, so to speak, to hang their excellent productions on. At times sounding like a heavily European version of indie-
cabaret
band
Man Man
, at other times a poppier version of fellow Scandinavian
electronic
dance savants
Junior Senior
, the duo appear capable of spinning virtually any musical idea into gold. The single
"Fa-Fa-Fa"
is glimmering
dance-funk
"I Used to Dance with My Daddy"
excellent computer
pop
, and when
"Ganguro Girl"
begins, it's nearly vocal
jazz
, but the lush chorus blooms rapturously into something beautiful and continental. Still, the humor probably wouldn't work if the
duo didn't treat their oddball themes so seriously, like
"Bulldozer"
(where BMX's prove to be better than sex) or, on
"Computer Camp Love,"
the twisted exchange that takes place between lead and backing vocals ("Did you get in her pants?," "She's not that kind of a girl, booger!," "Why? Does she have a penis?"). [
Nettwerk
also released the CD.] ~ John Bush