Shit Robot – 5 Songs Review

When your most recent EP is given the James Murphy seal of approval, heads will no doubt turn. Look on then, to the Shit Robot and his recent works on the aptly titled 5 Songs. Breathe (Looking At Gibraltar). Familiar names run the gauntlet of this latest release from Mr. Shit, real name Marcus Lambkin. Al Doyle featuring on the drums gives Shit Robot a link to LCD Soundsystem – the DFA Records collective has a capable set of instrumentalists and talent on their hands. Exposure to such impressive abilities can, of course, be found on 5 Songs, a smattering of tracks hoping to give us the best of the best when it comes to Shit Robot. It does just that.  

Few openers can give an audible sigh of relief – 5 Songs opens with the metallic thump so desperately needed after hours of acoustic screeners. Synth-heavy strikes and a metallic tinge to it all which features some thumping and consistent percussion not heard since the likes of Rock DJ from Robbie Williams are filtered through. Doyle strikes through on the synthesizer alongside an excellent vocal feature from Suzi Horn. Opener Breathe (Looking At Gibraltar) has a special momentum to it – featuring spoken word artistry to the heavy tinge. It feels like kitchen sink synth music. Christmastime, mourning time, all the time in the world for a track featuring all the right moves – a blur of The Waeve-style vocals and an Acid Klaus tinge of excellent interjections and synth-space awareness.  

Wailing successions to Superstar is a dark and seedy collection of deep-vocalised words from Mutado Pintado and a steady and rising beat. Those whirring factors which creep underneath, just about heard by those with ringing constantly in the ear canal, are a pleasure to pick up on. Shit Robot is a layered beast of an artist, a “fucking superstar,” as the second track describes the situation. These are the pursuits of nominative determinism indeed, the capturing of Shit Robot in his own essence through five tracks is a true marvel. Acid Klaus, to bring the electro beast of Sheffield up once more, did the same with Step On My Travelator last year. Carry the torch, a pass it on, The System knows it is worth more than a few lines complimenting its existence.  

Fundamentally good thumps to Hey Creep continue this exploration into which bits of electronic kit can fit where. Shit Robot keeps a steady pace and the relevancy of his meanings and movement – while never the focus of his work – are still clear and here. EP closer Every Little Bit Helps and the drum machine kit which flows through is a delight. 5 Songs in a brash and instrumentally heavy EP. But five songs do not cut it when you live next door to a pub which is yet to find a shuffle button on its Friday night playlist. On comes Queen once more. Don’t Stop Me Now echoes through the sealed windows and into the office. Pad the walls and blast 5 Songs – for the sake of your sanity and the quality of the music found here.