★★★★
We’re well past the flirting stage as far as the relationship between the Quin siblings and the humble synthesizer is concerned.
Their last outing, 2013’s Heartthrob, lit the flame. Now? Love, pure and simple.
Almost ten years removed from The Con, Tegan And Sara are in an entirely new place. It should be stressed, however, that this is purely from a musical standpoint. For those who came to the Quins for their uncanny ability to convey their innermost anguish and romantically inclined anxieties, you’d best stick around – there is arguably more weight to that side of things on Love You To Death than there has been from the duo in a long time.
Certainly, the sugar rush of lead single ‘Boyfriend’ is irresistible. Its linchpin, however, is the bittersweet lyrical reveals – “I don’t wanna be your secret anymore” may be one of the year’s more heartbreaking one-liners. Elsewhere, ‘BWU’ subverts the love-and-marriage fairytale across gated snares and a rose-tinted chorus, while ‘That Girl’ flourishes through its sparse piano and trademark tessellating dual vocals.
At barely over half an hour, Love You To Death is a lean, focused record. Love stinks, but everything is cool when you’re part of a team.
Tegan And Sara’sLove You To Deathis out now and available through Warner.
