BOOTBLACKS : "Paradise"

 

This Brooklyn-based band BOOTBLACKS is dancing in a more dark wave direction with their new album "Paradise", with songs driven by synth pulses. The reverb-slathered guitar sits back in the mix, content haunting the backdrop. Which works for me. The opening song has a dancey groove and vocals with a purpose, so I do not ask for too much more from this sort of thing. But they also add moody dynamics. The vocals are emoted in a more breathy whisper til the chorus, to create a Love & Rockets feel. A sexy sax creeps out of the shadows to color the song with 80s neon. 

The title track is more of a noticeable shift in a new wave direction. Not as poppy as what this stuff sounds like on the radio back in the 80s, but heading that way. It borders on synth wave by the time we get to "Can You Feel It." The overwrought emoting of the vocals gives more of a goth sound thanks to the impressive croon. It navigates the thin line between Dead or Alive and Duran Duran. It also has the most uptempo dance drive of the album so far. "Wilderness' is darker, still dancey in more of a goth nite way. Some of the synth lines attempt to balance this out with lighter layers. 

"When You Want" is darker, more along the lines of a less dramatic Sisters of Mercy. The guitars add to the atmospheric layers rather than bringing a more rock backbone. "Leipzig" puts 80s dance floors to the forefront of its mission statement, despite the vocals keeping to their more brooding focus that has dominated this album. The chorus is more dynamic in how it hits. The vocals are layered more interestingly with a sax wailing in the background. It has an extended dance remix feel to it. "Fade Away" juggles the goth expectations with the obligations to bring more of a new wave dance feel and split the difference, creating almost a hypnotic drone in the wall of sound this song drums up. 

"Melt' closes the album with a darker and more ambient wave of sound drifting over you like a wall of mist being pumped from a mountain-sized smoke machine, as the groove is buried in a bleak pulse with synth melodies trying to break the surface of the ominous mood. This is one of the best albums this year to delve into this intersection of dark-wave and more 80s-aligned dark pop sounds. Their brand of brooding is backlit with neon to showcase another facet of dark music. I will give this album an 8.5

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