It is that collision of influences, that merging of genres, that almost jarring nature of the electronic and the organic that makes Weekend a splendid return for undergroundLOVERS.
Labelling this release a comeback album is a lazy and inappropriate statement; the band didn’t go anywhere, there was no bitter feud, they were just busy doing other things and music wasn’t at the top of their list.
That said, you can’t escape the fact this is a return of sorts and for salivating fans, Weekend has been a long time coming. Thankfully, undergroundLOVERS don’t disappoint. While their most culturally significant albums Dream It Downand Rushall Stationwill forever remain etched in our cultural landscape, there’s something about this latest album that feels more complete, more organic, and certainly not second place to their youthful endeavours.
The line-up is as it has always been, with Giarrusso and Phillipa Nihill swapping lead vocal duties and the band edging in some more organic elements to their electronic sound. Nihill’s sweetness soars on ‘Spaces’ while Giarrusso roughs things up a little on ‘Au Pair’.
Everything sounds a little more Go-Betweens and a little less Joy Division but what has always made them them remains. It is by no means flawless, with the occasional drab hook and predictable melody, but they set out to capture the unpredictable and ever-changing nature of life in all of its extreme and mundane glory and have managed exactly that.
*** 1/2 out of five stars
BY KRISSI WEISS
Weekend is out now on Rubber Records.
