After two massively successful albums (critically and commercially) we'll admit to approaching this set with some trepidation. Their first album still ranks as one of the finest pop albums this decade, and despite losing core member Johnny Dark in the interim 'So This Is Goodbye' still has it's fair share of fans. So onto 'Begone Dull Care', their latest foray into tinted white-boy electro soul and MOR pop still featuring the pained vocals of Jeremy Greenspan and the sculpted beats of Matt Didemus. Is it any cop? Damn skippy. If anything, their previous effort sounds flaccid compared to this tightly puckered selection of deep-disco fried synthlines and pedigree electro rhythms, and thankfully Jeremy Greenspan can still coax a good spine chill or two out of our emotionally redundant selves. Opener 'Parallel Lines' immediately conjures comparisons to classic Chris & Cosey styled electropop albeit a little cosier (pardon me), while 'Work' blatantly takes inspiration from their time spent in Berlin with a well trained blend of minimised European house and disco driven by cold synthlines. 'Bits and Pieces' would be our pick for a single, fizzing with a rich analogue sound design and bearing a supremely fat subbass line. Just in case you thought it was just more of the same, there are reassuring surprises, like the dainty 'Dull To Pause' with music box melodies chiming along with charmingly naive strings, and the brilliant Radiophonic inspired intro to 'Sneak A Picture' which switches from deep space electronica to sweetest pop soul in the blink of an ear. This is going to take a few more listens to fully sink in but initial reactions are definitely positive and it's certainly safe to say that hardcore fans will not be dissappointed. Recommended.A1 Parallel Lines (6:33) A2 Work (6:31) A3 Bits & Pieces (4:01) A4 Dull To Pause (4:52) B1 Hazel (6:13) B2 Sneak A Picture (7:01) B3 The Animator (5:08) B4 What It's For (6:56)
