This album flew under my radar last month. It is weird because things feel more dancey, yet also more organic than their more recent releases. The title track has more of a Depeche Mode feel. Their earlier work not the radio hits. Ryan's voice drops down into a lower whisper to darken the mood. A minute and a half in and it's very hypnotic lulling you into the groove. "I Still Need You Here" is more subtle. Ryan's vocals retain a more Nick Edge to contrast the 80s pop balladry He muses over. A sax shows up to prove my point about the 89s pop balladry,.
The lo-fi production feel is a little weird on "Turn Away" . It is a more upbeat song, but rather than holding sonic heft it jangles off. Things have taken an odd turn "Saint Marie" feels like Leonard Cohen making a new wave song. A synth groove dominates "Match Factory Girl" . His vocals stay in the low almost whisper, which feels like a step back as on previous releases he was grooming his voice into more of a croon. I am also a little unsure of the drum programming at certain points. While the bones of "Servant of Your Soul" are solid, the drums under it sound like they are from an early 80s album like "Hooked on Classics". The arrangement is also a little too minimal.
Considering Ryan's past in Coliseum you would expect more guitar focused songs like "Primordial Blues" as that builds off what I hear as the band's strengths. "Pulsar 99" has unexpected science fiction based lyrics. As a song it moves pretty well. There is still plenty of guitar to keep it moving. Things close on an odd note with the 80's synths set against the guitars of "Night Must Fall". Though it is one of the album's best arrangements when it comes to layering the sounds. I would not call this their best album, as the vocals tend to paint things with the same color. There are some moments that carry a darker New Model Army brooding , and it's a decent overall listen so I will give this an 8.5.
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