Cold Cave leaves me cold... and not in a good goth way

It was with a healthy dose of skepticism that I first checked out Cold Cave's debut album, “Love Comes Close,” sometime last year. N666 was pretty hyper about it and suggested I give it a few listens. The thing is, most of the throw-back post-punk/ synth-pop stuff has left me, eh, unintersted. Bands may have some great singles, but with the exception of the Postal Service (do they even qualify as a throw back?,) most bands are inconsistent at best, and none know when to stop (Interpol.)

However, the Cold Cave debut was pretty great. Vocals in the Ian Curtis style that work (I could dedicate an entire blog to bands with shitty mock-Joy Division vocals,) peppy rhythms mixed with dark tones, supplemented with just enough layers to keep it from being simplistic. “LCC” is a solid record which I would easily recommend to anyone with a passing interest in either post-punk or synth-pop.

Now, I wish I was just as skeptical when I bought Cold Cave's latest, “Cherish the Light Years,” (Matador) last week. I should have known getting 2 albums I was excited about in one day (see Maritime post) was too good to be true. Cold Cave's sophomore effort is not a horrible record. But, after a pretty intense opener, the lead single “The Great Pan is Dead,” and a decent track 2, the record begins to unravel. The third track sounds is a guitar/ synth hybrid, a mix between New Order's “Movement” and “Brotherhood.” That sounds tempting, and with passing listens it sounds better. But with this track starts an unnecessary over-reliance on guitars, and well, fairly uninspired dark-pop. The vocals have changed as well. While the Curtis influence is still there, there is an added “umphhh” to the energy, which does not work so well. The fourth track, “Catacombs” sounds like it was inspired by the “Friends” them song (wtf??? right? I know!) And the balance of the disc seems little more than background music, which is a bummer for a band which showed quite a bit of potential.

As Cold Cave searches for “their sound,” perhaps giving “Love Comes Cold” a few listens will get them from jumping someone else's (Depeche Mode's) train. They had it right the first time, and I appreciate them trying to do some new stuff – it just falls flat. Perhaps it will grow on me, but for the time being I'll stick to their debut – a solid dark, synthy gem of the 00's.

Here is "The Great Pan is Dead."

Oh, yeah, and if you are wanting a little Fat Bobby of the Cure in your life check this out: