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Unpatterns Image
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 12 Ratings

  • Summary: James Ford and Jas Shaw's third studio album as Simian Mobile Disco is a mix of house and techno electronic music.
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 25
  2. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. May 14, 2012
    90
    What they discovered lies beyond DJ mixes and radio rotations; it's their magnum opus.
  2. May 16, 2012
    80
    SMD sounds like it's found a handle on its sound.
  3. May 11, 2012
    80
    The most danceable tracks are the simplest--Interference and Your Love Ain't Fair--but the rest is music in which to lose your thoughts, rather than your T-shirt.
  4. Jun 1, 2012
    80
    SMD's latest is an exploration not just in sound, but in concept; it feels like a defining statement, not just for them but for dance music in general.
  5. May 21, 2012
    64
    As a follow-up to 2010's sinister compilation Delicacies, Unpatterns stands decidedly in a shadow.
  6. Q Magazine
    Jun 22, 2012
    60
    Unpatterns continues the left-wards drift [toward minimalism] with no vocals except the ghostly sampled ones and a musical palate of textured house and electric funk. [Jun 2012, p.112]
  7. Magnet
    May 30, 2012
    40
    Unpatterns is indeed mostly patterns, in fact - moody, bloopy instrumentals that don't really fit into one subgenre box because they barely muster the strength to be defined by a category. [No.87 p.59]

See all 25 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Jun 29, 2012
    10
    Just amazing. Highlights include I waited for you, Interference, and Put your Hands together. I waited for you, Interference, and Put yourJust amazing. Highlights include I waited for you, Interference, and Put your Hands together. I waited for you, Interference, and Put your hands together are all very dance/club friendly. Expand
  2. Aug 8, 2012
    9
    Excellent album. It took its time to really build up each track but yet didn't seem to drag on like a LOT of dance albums (52 minutes went byExcellent album. It took its time to really build up each track but yet didn't seem to drag on like a LOT of dance albums (52 minutes went by fast). It ebbed and flowed quite nicely. The LP packaging is awesome as well. "Your Love Aint Fair" is my favorite track on the album. The synth track on that song alone was worth the price of the album. Expand
  3. Oct 22, 2014
    9
    Unpatterns is a very strong and experimental, although club-friendly dance record. A more mature effort compared to SMD's first two albums,Unpatterns is a very strong and experimental, although club-friendly dance record. A more mature effort compared to SMD's first two albums, which I still enjoyed nonetheless. Expand