Night Drive by Chromatics (CD, 2007)

Italians Do It Better

5025425198052

10050152475

Chromatics

CD

2007

Night Drive

Rock

Erstwhile no-wave troupe Chromatics first showcased their transformation from brash art-damaged punks to slick Eurodisco with their contribution to AFTER DARK, a showcase for the Italian Do It Better imprint. On their label debut, NIGHT DRIVE, scant remnants of the trio's post-punk bluster remain, but the emphasis is on stark synthetic atmospheres and seductively narcotic vocals. Taking the pulsing electronic soundscapes of Giorgio Moroder and adding a layer of synth-driven melancholy, the mid-tempo dance beats swoon more than rollick. Vocalist Ruth Radalet is the embodiment of a goth diva--icy and detached yet alluring--even inviting. On their stunning, slow-boil version of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill," chilling drones and a spindly guitar provide a stately backdrop for Radalet's breathy delivery. A perfect soundtrack for reverie or slow-dancing, NIGHT DRIVE is an enthralling wee-hours excursion into sleek death disco.

Uncut (p.76) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[W]hen Radelet's narcotic purr slides over the sparkling guitars of 'Healer' and 'Mask', that's when Chromatics excel." Mojo (Publisher) (p.112) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Chromatics' loving reanimation of 'icy' '80s electro locates the broken heart beating below the digital surface, a suite of retro-futuristic yearning that's something close to timeless."

1

USA