These guys were bound to evolve. I am glad they are. They have expanded their sonic palette, now drawing from dark emotive genres aside from death rock. The album opens with an almost Gary Numan-like take on New Wave. The post-punk jangle of the angular groove that possesses"Necessity Meal" is even more compelling. Lyrically great imagery is thrown at you in a collage of sentiments. There is little of the Christian Death worship that marked their earlier work. More synths drape the songs, it will be interesting to see how this is pulled off live. There is a more organic post-peek approach for "Tongue Tied Galore' that requires less imagination to envision its performance.
"Bowie in Daydreams" was already released as a single, so it is not a surprise that it was included on this album, as it bridges where the band was with where the band is now. "the Inevitable Crocodile" is more decorated with more synths and carries a hazy swirl, even with it's more 80s leaning groove. The chorus has a hook that gives all the weirdness around it purpose. What I admire about this song is how original it is while borrowing from the era the whole post-punk revival pays homage to. 'Ashtray Ballet" is haunted by a dense, hazy atmosphere, yet sonically heavy in its mood. Another example of how the band is carving its own niche.
Things move in a more disco direction on "Cut Here For Dialogue". It is hard not to bob your head to it but is such an odd shift from what has been going on up til this point. The ambiance gets more reverb-drenched as they dance into "What a Rainbow Feels Like". For there they waltz with a little more whimsy into 'All Else is a Curse". Thankfully things in on a darker note with "We Are Still Siamese", which is closer to what is expected from what we call goth music. I am glad they show a wider range of what they can do on this album, as it shows them growing into their own here. I will give this album a 9.5, for now, I wait to see how some of the more unexpected moments grow on me. If this is your introduction to the band it serves as a fine welcome into their majestic melancholy that is given more freedom here.
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