Rinocerose

By 2005, the largely French trio <> had slipped from the radar of most dance fans, and were earning releases only in a few countries. Then came the iPod commercial that used "Cubicle," and the group returned with a 2006 self-titled release that functioned as an introduction for anyone lured by the advert connection or the fact that their third album, Schizophonia, hadn't been released outside Europe. "Cubicle" earned notice because of its interpolation of the White Stripes and the host of new wave revival bands (plus the unhinged vocal of Bnaan Watts from England's Infadels), but truth is, <> had been plundering pop music for nearly a decade. It began in 1997 with "Machine pour les Oreilles," a slinky number reminiscent of trip-hop with New Order guitars that had little character but a certain degree of atmosphere. Next came the disco/Daft Punk mish-mash of 1999's Installation Sonore (plus its singles "Le Mobilier" and "La Guitaristic House Organization") and 2002's Music Kills Me ("Le Rock Summer"). The group's 2005 album Schizophonia is the one that featured "Cubicle," along with a third-rate Prince imitation titled "Bitch" and the sad spectacle of former Ride frontman Mark Gardener attempting a Liam Gallagher imitation ("My Demons"). Proof positive that Apple is not the unerring tastemaker many think it is, the music of <> may work well for advert backgrounds but loses its currency anywhere else. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide