*Includes a copy of the CD* "Looking to follow in the universally fawned-over footsteps of James Blake, Mount Kimbie and Darkstar, Vondelpark unveil their debut album of lovelorn electronic pop for R&S. Unlike the aforementioned though, Lewis Rainsbury's trio barely even pay lip service to dubstep and dance music tropes: their music is old-fashioned bedsit indie with a crisp 2013 digital veneer and the occasional bold production flourish. Sometimes it really works: the jangly guitar-driven 'Quest' sounds like Aztec Camera slowed to stoner pace, but still bright and buoyant, and the minimalist future-soul sound design of 'Come On' is nothing if not seductive. In the end it kind of falls between two stools - not quite as populist and accessible as, say, Everything Everything, but not as refined or experimental as a Blake or a Kimbie. Still, they have a way with a tune and a good ear for ambience, and you can imagine this very accomplished album embedding itself in a lot of star-crossed young lovers' playlists between now and the end of summer .
