Cold Cave -‘Cherish The Light Years.’ mp3 (Matador)

Cold Cave is essentially the work of one man, Wesley Eisold, and a cast of contributors

. Of the impressive list of those featured here, the most well-known one is Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The theme running through the record is that of nighttime walk

s in his adopted city of New York.

Critically acclaimed though Cold Cave’s last album, Love Comes Close was, I have to confes

s that it left me feeling underwhelmed overall. Part of this may be due to the fact that the two mp3s I heard first ‘Life Magazine’ and ‘Laurels Of Erotomania’ were perhaps the best things on the entire album. Some

of the album was great, but others just seemed like yet another rehash of eighties new wave/electro.

This album feels much more consistent and I have felt the urge to play it far more (and indeed I have). Sure, I think it’s clear that the band still have a deep love of the likes of the Cure, New Order and Depeche Mode etc.. (so do I !), as well as more recent electro-infused acts like The Faint. The press release mentions Suede’s Dog Man Star and Pulp’s Different Class, albums which I have loved since their release and cannot say I really feel here.

What I do feel is that Mr. Eisold and co. are finding their own voice far more on this record. Amongst the highlights are ‘Underworlds USA’ ‘Icons of Summer’ and the free track doing the rounds ‘The Great Pan Is Dead.’ I still feel that they have it in them to produce a truly great album, and whilst this isn’t it, it is streets ahead of their debut.

***1/2

Cherish the Light Years is released on Matador on April 4.

Cold Cave – ‘The Great Pan Is Dead.’ mp3