Vibrant, tight, bright, excellent toe-tapping indie electro-pop with a darker undercurrent by the Manchester quartet in their sixth full LP and first for six years and echoing influences such as Yellow Magic Orchestra and The Blue Nile. There are are also running parallels with contemporaries Hot Chip. With the distinctive, precise diction and high voice of lyricist Duncan Wallis, and upbeat pace and sharpness of the entire band, it feels constantly fresh and tight, from the opening title track to Damascenes, Tropigala (2 to 5), an ironic lifestyle parody to a famous Dolly Parton song (“In a 2 to 5, you can really get to drinking”) the funk bass of Poppin’ (“Read my muppet lips”), Exit Row, the stormier energy of I’m Not Your Dad and its off-kilter, slightly disturbing lyrics (“Don’t mark the gin, I’m only twelve!”), the wistful feel of In Salvia, all the way to closing track Dead Letter. Dancey in style, and yet with a dark underbelly, disco, funk and pop fizzle in this supremely crisp release that’s one of their best yet. Out on Memphis Industries.
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