The Night Is Young

Album review

After the spellbinding Be Strong which zeroed in on made-in-Chicago house sounds, 2 Bears have brought out a pretty surprising second album. We weren't sure whether the double-act of Joe Goddard (from Hot Chip) and Raphael Rundell alias Raf Daddy (best-known as a DJ with the Ministry of Sound) was just for fun, or some kind of side project. But now we can see that it's getting serious. But the bigger surprise in this second instalment in the adventures of our two British dancefloor teddies is the breathtaking eclecticism of The Night Is Young. Here we find the house DNA and 100% dancefloor vibrations which are characteristic of our two producers; but also some other music, too. Reggae, pop, disco, soul, the stylistic palette is big and broad. Raf Daddy likes to cite the Specials and above all their sort-of successor, the Fun Boy Three, as the major influences on this album. The same goes for the lyrics: the 2 Bears are not only interested in hedonism, and here and there they throw in some politically-engaged lyrics (like the reggae Money Man) and interrogate the burgeoning inner crisis that comes with turning 40... This clear-eyed duo's rainbow stretches even further with two tracks recorded in South Africa with local musicians. But a tourist's superficial, distracted listening won't cut it: The Night Is Young rewards attention and repeated listening. The Night Is Young is a charming and often thrilling album (especially guaranteed hits like Angel (Touch Me) andNot This Time), which is ideal for the dancefloor; and beyond… © MD/Qobuz