There is something wonderfully unserious about an album that opens with a song called “Sexy $hit.” Desperate Electric know exactly what kind of party they are throwing on News Flash!, and thankfully, they never spend too much time explaining it.
The Montana duo of Kayti Korte and Ben Morris have built their sound around what they call “power disco,” mixing electronic production with funk, soul and the chemistry of a live band.
On News Flash!, that identity feels especially comfortable. The record is glossy without becoming sterile, flirtatious without trying too hard and, most importantly, made to move to.
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Funk With Its Collar Unbuttoned
If Chromeo’s elastic funk, Jessie Ware’s modern disco polish, and a bit of Prince’s playful swagger all ended up at the same house party, Desperate Electric would feel right at home on the playlist. There’s also a hint of Daft Punk in the duo’s love for retro textures, reworked into something cleaner and more electronic.
But what really stands out to me is that the personality is entirely their own. Desperate Electric doesn’t treat funk like something sealed behind glass. Instead, they let it breathe: messy, sexy, and a little bit funny when it wants to be.
That comes through especially on “We Can Go All Night,” where a thick bass groove pushes the track forward under glossy disco production. The vocals match it with a teasing confidence, capturing that feeling of a night that’s already run long, but no one is even thinking about going home yet.
“I Control The Vibe” takes a slightly cooler, more controlled approach to the dance floor. The production is sleek and modern, but there’s still enough groove underneath to keep it from feeling too polished. Even the title says a lot about what Desperate Electric do best: confidence isn’t just present in their music — it’s built into it.
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A Record That Knows How to Have Fun
Across 11 tracks, News Flash! isn’t reinventing disco, but is reminding us why the genre refuses to disappear! Good basslines, strong vocal chemistry, and a sense of physical movement can still do a lot of work.
I think Desperate Electric understand something many revivalist acts miss: retro influences are much more convincing when you stop treating them reverently. News Flash! feels less like the soundtrack to a night that got way more fun than expected.
The headline here is fairly simple: Desperate Electric sound like a band having an extremely good time — and News Flash! makes it difficult not to join them.
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