Gravity the Seducer

Liverpool’s exciting synth-pop explorers head into airy mountain vistas with their fifth album, 2011’s excellent <i>Gravity the Seducer</i>. Each of their releases has brought their sound to new conclusions and this one is no exception. The dark mysticism of “White Gold” alone is reason to stop and listen. Its moody swaths of synths burn like blistering light through the ice caverns, while “Ace of Hz” turns even the group’s pop moves into ethereal meditations. “Ritual” bounces onto the dancefloor with an ominous hangover. “Moon Palace” sounds like a pop tune deliberately frozen over and thawed anew. “Melting Ice” continues this theme, with a vibe that’s pure Siberia for the dancefloor. (Nothing melting here.) The group’s electro-clash Euro-disco is a powerful weapon; however, the band are hesitant to go for an easy score. “90 Degrees” moves with a haunted mood. “Aces High” uses the melody for “Ace of Hz” as an instrumental to pull the entire album together as a conceptual whole.