Todd Terje - The Big Cover-Up

Drowned In Sound 70

Covering much loved classics from disco giants such as Boney M., Martin Denny and, er, Vangelis, the Norwegian conglomerate has cooked up some heart­warmingly familiar, feel­good tunes with drops that will make you regret you had that last G&T, cause, uh­oh, you’re hitting the dance floor and you know it’s going to get messy…

The Big Cover­-Up marks Terje’s first release with The Olsens, and it's yielded wildly exhilarating results, evoking a pervasive sense of optimism and happiness. From the funky Eighties-sounding beats and synths of ‘Disco Circus’, through the sexy, jungle beat­inspired ‘La Fete Sauvage’, to the playful and happy­-go­- lucky ‘Baby Do You Wanna Bump’ – which seamlessly marries the deep male lead vocal of the Boney M. song with the pumping techno beats of Terje – the record is sure to add spring to your step.

The EP also showcases remixes by Daniel Maloso, Dan Tyler, Prins Thomas and Øyvind Morken which get a lot more hot and heavy, blazing with robust bass lines and densely woven synths.

It would be unfair to say that The Big Cover-Up doesn’t hit a slump every once in a while: the build­s to the big release can get a bit self-­indulgent and monotonous here and there, occasionally obfuscating the human pulse beat behind the relentless machine beat. Some of the tracks are just begging to be seasoned a bit more generously with some warm and funky horn or string arrangements or slightly more dynamic rhythm progressions.

Nevertheless, the occasional lull doesn’t stop The Big Cover­Up from being an utterly enjoyable, crisp., power­packed beast. So if you’re getting in the mood for busting some sick moves on the dancefloor this summer­ Mr Terje is your man.