Death And Vanilla
Flicker
★★★
FIRE. CD/DL/LP/MC
On their fifth album, the Malmö-based trio attempt analogue synth conjuring.
“We are the fuel, feeding your fire.” While that line from retro-futurist opening track Out For Magic serves as the LP’s statement of intent, it could also be applied to the Swedish collective’s whole discography. Death And Vanilla have been exploring fanciful, esoteric subject matter since their first release in 2012. Although some of the former dream-pop mist has lifted, here the trio attempt to perform old magic with vintage synths and overdubbed vocals. As suggested by the album’s title, some tracks do ignite a spark: from a trotting bass line intro, Fearless eventually unveils a lush sonic plateau, akin to the gothic-tale soundtracks of Broadcast. Elsewhere, circular melodies induce hypnosis, yet most of the songs have no distinct hooks. In all, an album that serves its escapist purpose, even if its methods are somewhat predictable.