Pleasure Line＜限定盤＞

The third album by New Orleans Video Age, Pleasure Line continues the 80s-indebted indie pop groups movement away from the more-alienated post-punk inspirations of their debut. Arriving at a sparkling, fabric softener-treated new wave thats blended with a heavy dose of old-school soft rock, its romantic qualities reflect the impending (at the time of release) marriages of songwriters/co-leaders Ross Farbe and Ray Micarelli. The self-produced album opens with the saccharine, post-disco sounds of Pleasure Line. Though injected with some funky guitar play, the title track sets a relaxed, affectionate tone that stays around through changes of pace like Aerostar, a brisker, punchier entry with spoken sections that manages to evoke the Footloose soundtrack era. Another slight diversion, the jaunty, sitcom theme-inspired Good to Be Back, closes the set with the optimism of lessons well-learned. Among the highlights in between is Comic Relief, a self-conscious tune suitable for a ruminative Sunday afternoon. Still head-bobbing in nature, it layers fat keyboard timbres and acoustic guitar over efficient beats and bass, behind lyrics such as I love you baby, cant you see?/Aint nothin but a comedy/Im laughing but the jokes on me. With its similarly glistening keyboard palette but more animated bass line, Shadow on the Wall does a more forward-looking take on the theme of love (Lonely night/Im wishing only I was looking in your eyes). These shifts are subtle within the context of its more conspicuous traits, however, making Pleasure Line a destination for lovers of earnest 80s pop. ~ Marcy Donelson

80年代シンセ・ポップに多大な影響を受けていることが容易に想像できる音作りに思わずニヤリ。〈ビーチ・ボーイズmeetsダフト・パンク〉と称され、前作が大いに評価されたニューオーリンズのユニットによる待望の新作が到着。現行のポップスやAORの要素も絶妙なバランスで配合されており、いまだからこそ聴きたくなるサウンドに私は小躍りで応えたい! 個人的には"Aerostar"のプリンスっぽいアレンジがドツボ!
bounce (C)人與拓馬