One of the most anticipated albums of 2007 – I too couldn’t wait to get my hands on this, and wrap my ears around it. And here it is, Idealism from Germany’s Digitalism. Only a few tracks in, and I couldn’t help but feel that I was listening to something special.

The Hamburg-based duo of Isi and Jens burst on to the international scene in a big way with their debut release Zdarlight on the French label Kitsune. For a debut release, it did plenty, and was one of the absolute monsters of 2005/6; now for our listening pleasure, their debut album is finally unleashed. There was something about Zdarlight that set it apart from the usual 4/4-club sound that, ironically, made it a club staple. The heavy dance tune, tinged with acid, the guitar line inflection is what made the track and set it apart. Here, it is that same difference, that sets the whole album apart.

There is no warm up here, as the lads get straight into it with the banging Magnets – providing a taste of the frenetic pace that is to ensue, right next to the acid-electronic concoction that Zdarlight will always be. It leads nicely into I Want I Want – interesting for not only the initial sample which sounds like Zdarlight on something pretty potent, but it also allows the boys to show their hand, and reveal – to an extent – what this album is all about. There is a distinct ‘rock’, almost ‘Brit-pop’ sound to it (I’m thinking Blur, not Oasis) and it goes on and on… It resonates through Idealistic as well as their reinterpretation of The Cure’s Fire In Cairo – which these boys call Digitalism In Cairo . Little wonder that this CD has been touted as dance music that you can rock to.

But it gets better; and no better is there a dance song that you can rock to, than with Pogo – the current single of the album – and a track that I simply cannot get enough of. As cheesy as the lyrics may be “….it’s been quite a while since I could experience your brightness; now you’ve got a brighter smile and I think I’m going to like it….”, there’s a distinctly uplifting feel to it, with a touch of The Killers in their Mr Brightside days. This for me, is the track of the album. Killer.

Enter what feels like the second half of the album, with a stronger acid electronic edge, and while the rock sound remains, it has arguably hopped into the back seat. There’s a not too inconspicuous Daft Punk sound present – far from a criticism. There are some banging tunes here, with some seriously chunky beats and some very well placed breakdowns, Anything New and Homezone doing that sound more than justice.

And just to keep you guessing, two tracks that take us down a notch; Apollo-Gize kicks it off, with some mellow beats, and some even more mellowed lyrics, worked nicely into Jupiter Approach – before they bang it back up with Jupiter Room whose opening bass line sounds very Daft Punk – I kid you not; I was thinking a combination of Around the World and Da Funk .

But none of that is actually a criticism. Far from it in fact. This album is a cracker. It has a taste of everything, and while the sound may not be completely original, the production of it is something else. And seeing as though we’ve reached the midpoint of the year, what better time to call it – but for me, this is one of the albums of 2007.