Cassius - Ibifornia

The Guardian 60

Polydor

A comeback from a much-missed French electronic duo, with an eclectic guest list that includes Pharrell Williams, Cassius’ Ibifornia (Ibiza-meets-California, might work better in French) shares much theoretical shelf space with Daft Punk’s magisterial Random Access Memories (2013). Featuring the likes of Cat Power (often singing against type, on songs such as Action), Beastie Boy Mike D and hit-maker Ryan Tedder, these squelchy tunes pack much summer sunshine, and even kitsch jungle noises on the title track. But the long-range outlook is a little more mixed. Go Up (Pharrell, Cat Power) is a sleek banger, while Tedder’s contributions are naked bids for 21st-century chart heat. Similarly, Love Parade is humid with funk, but Mike D’s rap on it is toe-curling.