JAR RECORDS
The fifth album from Archive’s Dave Pen and colleague Mike Bird is, like many LPs this year, a product of lockdown, which perhaps accounts for its subdued mood. At first, this feels rather frustrating, especially in contrast to the epic tendencies of 2015’s In The Company Of Imaginary Friends. Function scarcely fulfils its dramatic promise, and Modern Junk also seems to hold back. Ultimately, however, such restraint pays off, allowing Flames’ inventive breakdowns to flourish and leaving space for Changes to exploit its quietly menacing vocal.