CD Review: The Juan Maclean

The Future Will Come (DFA)

Wed, Apr 22, 2009 at 4:00 am

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Like his label boss and musical compatriot James Murphy, Juan MacLean makes twitchy electro-pop intended more for groove-minded hipsters than your average club-hopper. On his second album, MacLean and his group of robo-soul pals (particularly Nancy Whang, whose voice guides most of these 10 songs) flutter through beat-driven cuts that aren't as alienated — or as alienating — as they initially let on. Still, the Juan MacLean's techno-disco thump isn't as warm as Murphy's work with LCD Soundsystem. The Future Will Come is at its best when it throws little bumps on the path to the dance floor, like the percussive backdrop of the title tune and the squiggly synths punctuating "Accusations." But MacLean saves the best for last with "Happy House," a 12-minute tour de force that's as epic as twitchy electro-pop gets. — Gallucci