When The Night

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The seven-minute title track of St. Lucia's debut is as great a place to start as any, confident as it is in eschewing the three-and-a-half-minute pop norm for something twice its length. Like much of <i>When the Night</i>, the track shimmers and glistens, with the history of synth-pop all bound up in its beguiling intro, buoyant middle, and exhaling finale. The similarly titled opening tune, “The Night Comes Again,” makes a good intro to the whole collection, sneaking up on listeners with its modest midtempo energy, which takes 90 seconds to kick in—but the huge, barreling synths and layered vocals feel like the start of a very good party. Indeed, the next tune, “The Way You Remember Me,” is a joyous dance-floor invitation, with singer/mastermind Jean-Philip Grobler sounding like a mash-up of Human League/Depeche Mode at their top-of–the-world best. Grobler has a voice as smooth as top-shelf whiskey, laced with a little heat and desire, even when he’s planning to revisit something that should have ended (“All Eyes on You”) or is leaving for good (“Elevate”). The blaring sax on “Cold Case” is very, very cool.

via Apple Music

The Clerk says

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