The first LP by Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal together since 2004 returns with a bang, including big melodies, drums, and production, some original twists, and an 80s sound very much in vogue again, perfectly timed. The title track’s strong rhythm gallop and chorus echoes their heyday, with added electronica, though there’s a melancholy to the lyric: “So who’s that ghost knocking at my door? / You know that I can’t love you more … life is cruel, life is tough, life is crazy then it all turns to dust,” in which Orzabal refers to the passing of his wife in 2017 after which he suffered a long bout of ill health. The album title, perhaps inspired by Malcolm Gladwell’s book, mainly pertains more to about breaking points rather than making points, although the smooth sheen sound and lyrics of Break The Man also leans towards stories of catharsis. Opening track No Small Thing is a gentle country-ish acoustic love song, with a wistful passing-of-time theme. Long, Long, Long Time continues that theme, while My Demons is is catchy noir-ish number with echoes of Depeche Mode. The album slows as it progresses, with further glances to the past, Rivers of Mercy and Please Be Happy are slow, piano-based power ballad numbers and slowly build into orchestral and jazzy embellishments, while Master Plan returns again to that classic big drum sound and heavy nods to late Beatles, Pink Floyd, and OMD. Overall, plenty of body and soul to offer those who enjoyed the pair’s 80s pomp, as well bringing mainstream formulas of quality. Out on Concord Records.
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