Remember the 1980s? Russian quintet Motorama do. In Cold War times the joke was that Soviet music fans were getting into The Beatles just when they split. However, it may be that the band from Rostov-on-Don have been trawling their parents’ record collections.
Poverty is poppier than 2010’s debut Alps – obvious influences still include The Cure and Editors, but it’s a short hop to A-ha whereas previously they ploughed doomier depths, recalling Artery and a plethora of long-forgotten indie acts. Meandering basslines and spooky keyboards sit oddly with Vladislav Parshin’s crooned vocal on ‘Dispersed Energy’, but ‘Heavy Wave’ recalls New Order at their most chipper. Looks like the ’80s are here to stay.
(This review originally appeared in the Fareham View)
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