Prins Thomas’s Internasjonal label is easing itself in rather nicely, and this debut album from Cage & Aviary adds another string to its bow. The duo of Jamie Paton and Nigel of Bermondsey have been around for five years, but this is their first long player. In general terms they make slowed down, largely instrumental disco – the sort of thing you’d expect from Thomas himself, but with more of an ’80s influence. ‘Giorgio Carpenter’ is a perfect example, bearing something of a resemblance to The Passions’ ‘I’m In Love With A German Film Star’, but the duo are far from derivative in their approach. ‘Infatuation’ has something of an Italian disco flavour, while ‘Beat N Other Path’, ‘Migration’ and ‘In Todd We Trust’ are really good groovers – ‘Migration’ with its slinky bassline and ‘Todd’, presumably a reference to master Terje, with its slow, loping beat. A lovely burst of retro positivity, if you like!
