Django Django 3rd studio offering, Marble Skies, slots nicely between the Pet Shop Boys, early Pink Floyd and synth hooks from current Top 40 fare.
The title track “Marble Skies” opens with a phone ringing leading to a tempo and synth rhythm straight from the middle 80’s. The vocals and lyrics fit the genre as well. The album then takes the wrong exit off the freeway in “Surface to Air” with a riff stripped straight from Ed Sheehan’s “Shape of You”. The vocals are thin and don’t save the track.
“Champagne” is again reminiscent of work such as Madonna from the 90’s. “Tic Tac Toe” rides a fun snare beat over psych-pop.
This is the recurring theme for this collection of songs put together. This disjointed collection could benefit from jettisoning half the songs and putting together the remainder so there is more sonic cohesiveness. These remainder tracks in my mind are:
Marble Skies
Tic Tac Toe
Further
Beam Me Up
In Your Beat
Real Gone
So if you are into a bit of a mixed bag, it’s certainly enjoyable. The production is a little thin and airy. Some songs suffer from hook schizophrenia and tend to wander. The title track is a solid tune followed by true Tic Tac Toe.
my rating: 3.5/5
Have a listen here: Amazon Music Unlimited | Apple Music | Spotify | Tidal
Django Django Marble Skies is available as of January 11 on Ribbon Music. The band – David Maclean (producer/drummer), Vincent Neff (vocalist/guitarist), Jimmy Dixon (bass) and Tommy Grace (synths) – will be touring the West Coast around their first-ever performances at Coachella April 14. Vancouver will see Django Django perform at the Commodore Ballroom, April 24. Tickets available via Live Nation and usual outlets.
written by Scotty Evil
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