Released on: 23rd August 2019
With punchy bass noises and an almost Pop music like clarity The Legendary Pink Dots [LPD hereon in] return to their avant-garde craft with keenness and cool. Where behind intelligent and weighty lyrics Angel In The Detail has a comprehensive and alluring sound production contained within a Frankensteins’ Monster of genre influences.
LPD are more 80s than synthwave and more industrial than an Ableton demo disc. These indisputable facts are omnipresent throughout Angel In The Detail and prevalent in everything through structure to sound design. As the zeitgeist of 70s electronica is carried through a further four decades. LPD have continued to push the envelope for experimental music and have honed their skills throughout their long career, and extensive discography. However this album is not limited to any particular definition but it is a mood.
A good mood; A playful mood; A dark mood. Angel In The Detail is, like many of LPDs previous albums, a somber indulgence. But like many dark acts offers cathartic release. With LPD delivering this through an almost perfect sound design. As when their haunting synths and ephemeral distortions dance it creates an atmosphere of controlled anxiety. Where while mingling with guitar chords and interspersed with aloof melodies the tunes sporadically erupt into refined chaos.
To define a beast with a paltry name would be to take away its exotic charm and Angel In The Detail is an album with an illusion that is suited to both esoteric and fantasy. An album that is musically, politically and intellectually challenging. And an album that will make your belly dance.
9/10
