It says a lot about the Radio Dept that seven years after its release we still regularly play “Where the Damage Isn’t Already Done” from the Swedish band’s excellent debut album, “Lesser Matters”. The band’s equally compelling sophomore effort, 2006’s “Pet Grief” moved the band into decidedly more dream-pop territory, but since then, the new album has suffered from endless delays, prompting thoughts that perhaps Johan Duncanson and his cohorts had lost their mojo.
Not so, for the Radio Dept have played a blinder on “Clinging to a Scheme”, finding the happy medium between the shoegaze and the dream-pop to produce a highly superior album of multi-textured, melodic, atmospheric indie-pop music. In fact, the album presents a wholly united sound from start to finish. “Domestic Scene” is as beautiful an opening track as you could hope for, its gently cascading guitar melody lilting the listener along and into “Heaven’s on Fire” a cunning marriage of casio-synth lick and lightly funked guitar that qualifies both as a summer singalong and the lowest key dancefloor filler ever written. A song for starry eyed lovers, which somehow incorporates some middle section piano that would make Toto happy. Yep, Toto. Elsewhere “David” recalls the Avalanches, while “The Video Dept” brings to mind the straight up guitar propelled spirit of “Where the Damage…”
All the songs are founded on simple but insistent and wildly listenable hooks. Those familiar with the band’s previous work will also be familiar with Duncanson’s vocals here, which are as effortlessly warm-but-distant as in previous times. While low key enough to pass as likeable background music the album is also beautiful enough to engage on a deeper level, confirming the Radio Dept as a band who just don’t make bad records. The shoegaze spirit remains intact. The hits keep coming. Long may it continue.
8/10
“Clinging to a Scheme” is out on 21 April on Labrador Records.
