Careful, the sophomore album from Massachsetts duo Boy Harsher, is full of ominous, brooding electro pop that plays heavily on 80s infuences – to great effect.
The relentless single tone synth bass that pervades across this album reeks of 80s sci-fi horror movies and anyone who’s been enjoying Stranger Things will find the musical style appearing here instantly recognisable.
The vocals of Jae Matthews provide and ethereal backdrop to the sense of foreboding delivered by Augustus Muller’s keyboards. Some tracks are all about creating a sense of dystopia, such as opener Keep Driving, Crush and Careful, which could easily have come from the mind of David Lynch.
However the album has pop firmly at its heart, with tracks such as Face the Fire, Tears, and LA drawing on influences such as early Depeche Mode and even the Pet Shop Boys.
Closer was a strong contender for my album of the week, but what probably took it out of the running was that, while hugely enjoyable, as you delve deeper into the album all the tracks start to blend into one. Bar the occasional trip into weirdness, most of the tracks are relatively interchangeable.
This album will be one that would work well when added to a shuffled playlist. It’s great to hear one of the tracks pop up when you’re not expecting it, but playing through the whole album can start to feel like a bit of a chore.
Release date: 01 February 2019
Rating: 7/10
Standout track: Come Closer
For fans of:
- The Soft Moon
- Sisters of Mercy
- Sink Ya Teeth
The Album Review 
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