The Manchester-formed synth-indie-pop five-piece return with fresh toe-tapping electro retro sounds, but also with a particularly big, live sound, achieved by relocating to Sheffield to work with producer Ross Orton (MIA, Arctic Monkeys, Working Men’s Club). “Ross is the Sheffield Steve Albini,” says singer Joe Evans. That comes through immediately on the airy, cavernous sense of space, heavy drums, and shimmering synths and twinkling, reverby guitars on opener Lilac Sky, the anthemic Bliss Bliss, while Thinner Wine mixes passionate, soaring love song pop with a krautrocky momentum and a Cure-ish guitar sound. Bloom and Fade meanwhile strips the sound back then expanding into echoes of New Order and Future Islands, the latter especially in the bassline and glistening synth, and Evans’ strong vocals. The single How To Walk seems to turn a soaring frenzied, ecstatic pop up yet another notch. Every track indeed pulsates melodiously, sometimes also reminiscent of early 80s and Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, from I Can’t Lie to the punchy The Painting Of The Bay all and closer I Will Set Fire To The House. Take that pulse - healthily strong. Out on Melodic Records.
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