If the reception following Reptile Youth’s self-titled debut was anything to go by, then one would assume their second release, Rivers That Run For A Sea That Is Gone, comes a little premature. Reptile Youth, now nearly two years old, generated a lot of buzz; arguably it didn’t take off quite as expected, but it was endlessly praised for its sweet ‘summery’ vibes, largely thanks to cutesy lyrics like “I’m surfing on endorphins/ I hit a really big wave/ Oh it’s such a shiny day/ The kind of day you want to save”.

Following the interminably silly first album, the Danish pair have chosen to take themselves a little more seriously it seems. “Colours” is permeated by a sense of apocalyptic drama, featuring a quintessentially 80’s guitar solo, not to dissimilar from that heard on the Ashes to Ashes theme tune (that’s Philip Glenister Ashes to Ashes, not Bowie – more of a Fat White Duke, if you like). Lyrically it could be accused of being overly simple; “The volcanoes will cry/And the oceans will be drinking/On the day the colours die” is hardly John of Patmos, but then again it needn’t be, it’s all secondary to the propelling bass and expansive synth sounds that give the track a sense of urgency and occasion.

RTRFASTIG ties in quite neatly with the recent penchant for retro-flavoured releases such as Arcade Fire’s Reflektor, but despite being grounded in the groove, Reptile Youth feel more Frankie Goes to Hollywood as opposed to Chic. Sonically it’s thick and luxurious; all organic sounds are drenched in reverb and are effect laden, turning the album into one hypnotic blur.

Like its predecessor, this record suffers from a sense of déjà vu; a feeling that the same ideas are being fleshed out but from slightly different angles. This being the case, “Structures” is the first instance where the marriage between electronic-dance and Resistance-era Muse drama feels totally convincing. The track builds slowly, gathering force before erupting into a wall of lush sounds, lifting the monotony.

“Where You End I Begin” is a welcomed lull from the relentless charge. Violent and explosive guitar chords ensure it loses none of the albums pomp, but this time the vigour is offset with some seldom used acoustic guitar sounds. “We’re All In Here” follows suit and is definitely worthy of the “summery” tag; finding Reptile Youth in their mellower guise and serving as a perfect example of less being more.

First single “JJ”, with its sing along synth-line and trippy, psychedelic lyrics is bound to feel more at home under the sun with lashings of sub-four percent lagers, but it’s all too easy to rest on Reptile Youth’s live reputation to justify what overall seems like a safe and samey effort. In comparison with their first venture, Rivers That Run For A Sea Is Gone has become a lot heavier, and just damn right stodgy when held up to bouncy and vibrant tracks like “Fear”.

For all its flaws, Reptile Youth have delivered a more mature and slick effort; departing from those earlier pop sensibilities and stepping forth into the ‘rockier’ side of their psyche. However in the process they have lost that stupid sense of fun and idiocy that made them initially so appealing.