The Canadian indie-rock veteran of Wolf Parade, Handsome Furs, Divine Fits, Operators, Atlas Strategic and more releases his first solo LP, a scintillating synth-sheen, autobiographical sci-fi cityscape of alt-pop with shades of early 80s Bowie. It’s recorded with producer Randall Dunn (Sunn O))) and Oneohtrix Point Never), and songwriting collaborations with Sub Pop’s co-founder Jonathan Poneman, along with guest instrumentation from Medicine guitarist Brad Layner and drummer Matt Chamberlain (Pearl Jam, Fiona Apple, Bowie). Stylish, rich in influences, it is full of heavily layered, semi-orchestral experimentation, toying with glitchy, subtly intricate electronics, and dashes of vibraphone and synth, but through all that, remains earworm catchy. There’s an inspired, dark sense of foreboding as well as swagger here, with highlights including the dynamic, syncopated opener Lose, Ghost In The Mirror, Euphoria, Dead Tourists, and the defiantly uplifting Holy Is The Night. Top notch work by an artist with much band experience, here at the peak of his powers. Out on Sub Pop.
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