Peaches, Drums of Death

Peaches' 2000 debut, Teaches of Peaches, was undoubtedly a high point for its genre. There was something uniting and motivating to be found in Merrill Nisker's skeletal production, sexual proclamations and daredevil live shows. But through Fatherfucker and Impeach My Bush, Peaches' repetitive approach—rooted to a single 909 groovebox and a few moaning synths—drained her music of its initial bravado.

Despite treading too little new ground on her latest release, I Feel Cream, the disc is nonetheless a welcome step forward. It helps immensely that multiple producers—Soulwax, Digitalism, Drums of Death (who joins Peaches on this tour), Simian Mobile Disco and original partner in crime Gonzales—all contributed. Peaches finally found a mix of good editors to cross out the dead tricks, throw in infallible synth compositions, and make the songs concise and piercing affairs. Compared to her previous work, I Feel Cream is Peaches' most melodic and brooding work to date. It's still dance music, and she's still rapping about bizarre, fantastical sexcapades. But there are enough emotive moments, grinding buzzsaw synths and updated production methods here to suggest that, just maybe, Peaches is growing up.