From Expo 86 to synth pop circa 1986, Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade, Atlas Strategic) is plumbing the depths of 80’s new wave, electronica and industrial on Sound Kapital, the third full-length from Handsome Furs. Boeckner (vocals, guitar) and his wife Alexei Perry (keyboards, vocals) trade their indie rock guitars for keyboards and drum machines on the nine songs. However Sound Kapital is not simply a fun retro experiment full of euro club songs, it is an immersion into the sound as well as a platform for socio-political commentary. In August 2010 the Montreal based band visited Burma, joining underground shows with local acts oppressed by the then military regime. The plight of musicians as subversives struck a chord with Boeckner and Perry; it may seem antithetical that a trip with personal and emotional resonance could be justly captured on synths, but it really works. Standout tracks include and “Damage” and “Serve the People” – a nod to the Burmese band Side Effect, with whom the Handsome Furs hope to reunite later this year. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Moonface, Sunset Rubdown, Swan Lake, Wolf Parade