CSS' second album: a first listen

First thoughts are in on Brazilian wunderkinds CSS' sophomore release Donkey, due for release in July on Sub Pop.

Writing on DiS' 'sister' website (I think that's what we're calling it now) thequietus.com, eminent pop critic John Doran gives a worrying indication of where we're heading here: "On first listen (and perhaps this is not helped by the negative connotations of the title) it doesn’t make for very impactful listening at all.

"There is no intro as bewitching and bewildering as ‘CSS Suxxx’, no obvious massive chart smash and nothing as unhinged and laugh-out-loud funny as ‘Meeting Paris Hilton’."

Speculating as to why quality levels might have taken a bit of a dip, Doran muses: "Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that Warners are distributing this for Sub Pop which means that all of the rough edges have been smoothed off."

A ray of hope? Oh go on then: "This said after several more listens it proves to be something of a slow burner."

Among highlights on the record Doran picks out lead single 'Rat Is Dead (Rage)' ("...more than a hint of the Bossanova era Pixies of it"), 'Reggae All Night' ("harks back to the debut in style at least with hyper kinetic ‘Burning Down The House’ keyboard stabs and Chicago house keyboard line") and 'More' ("The best song on the album... a real Trevor Horn slick take on the Tom Tom Club").