School Of Seven Bells – Disconnect From Desire

As School Of Seven Bells welcome us aboard the good ship shoegaze it’s immediately apparent that she’s undergone a serious re-fit. More than just a lick of paint here and there, from its core outwards everything had been rebuilt bigger and better than before. But as ex-Secret Machine Benjamin Curtis prepares to up-anchor and set sail on seas of dreamy-electro-pop the Deheza twins sit waiting on their island; preparing their siren like vocals to lure passengers and crew onto their rocky shores.

Much like fellow spooky New Yorkers A Place To Bury Strangers, SVIIB have put a lot more meat on the bone by significantly bolstering the production of their sophomore album. What once was wraithlike takes on a more corporeal form that bristles with an energy and life that was absent from 2008’s Alpinisms (a solid record but when reappraised after listening to Disconnect From Desire can feel somewhat hollow). Plus beyond the production they have taken every other aspect that worked for them previously and built upon those solid foundations.

Clearly they are not content to just move in a single direction. Whether it’s the abrasive reverberations of ‘Babelonia’ or the dreamy sound-scapes of ‘I L U’ their desire to traverse every inch of the map is undeniable. At times they are reminiscent of 90′s outfit Curve, where vocal harmonies intertwine with electronic dance-floor beats. Elsewhere they channel the haunting melodies of the Cranes to tremendous effect. But at all times their unique identity remains intact.

A lot of their influences may well be around twenty years old, but their songwriting craft, musical dexterity and studio magic combine to make a record that is both enjoyable and relevant today.