Still Life [LP] in Bloomington, MN

A moody, deeply yearning work of unadulterated retro-style synth pop, the debut album from Britain's
Little Cub
, 2017's
Still Life
, remains remarkably fresh, even if it mainly sounds like a lost gem from the 1980s. '80s synth pop has been a touchstone throughout much of the indie-electronic movement of the mid-2000s, with artists like
M83
,
Washed Out
, and
Hot Chip
borrowing the cool digital fuzz of bands like
Tears for Fears
Erasure
the Human League
. However, few bands have borrowed so thoroughly as
do on their debut album, 2017's
. Hailing from South-East London,
is a trio featuring lead vocalist
Dominic Gore
, keyboardist
Duncan Tootill
, and keyboardist
Ady Acolatse
. Together they craft a gauzy framework of vintage-sounding keyboards and drum machines, all of which surround
Gore
's yearning, resonant croon. In fact, with
at the center of their sanguine keyboard arrangements,
often evince the more downtempo end of the
Pet Shop Boys
output. However, while their similarly inclined contemporaries tend to bring out the dancey side of '80s synth-based pop,
are much more in line with bands like
the Cure
and
the Smiths
, creating literate anthems of exuberant melancholy. While
's core approach is to recapture a bygone sound, there's a modern sophistication and production sheen to the album that speaks to their wit and savvy self-awareness. Catchy and beat-oriented as they are, cuts like "My Nature," "Hypnotise," and "Mulberry" remain introverted in attitude -- dance music for wall flowers -- and fit in nicely next to more prog-influenced acts like
Field Music
. In that sense, although one assumes that much of the music on
was programmed, many of the tracks, like "Too Much Love" and the kinetic "Breathing Space," appear to feature real bass, minor guitar flourishes, and at least some real, woody drums via studio addition
Nathaniel Butler
. Ultimately, with
have managed to capture the '80s synth moment, bringing it to life with tactile, analog lyricism. ~ Matt Collar