My allure to this record arrived through Midnight & Angel. With tender voice, tight electro percussion and nightly synth melodies, this song conjured a kinship to Black Celebration, a record I adore and have always wanted to hear more of. Vows delivers that magic in moments but between its flushes of human emotive touch comes a mechanized industrial delve into aesthetic and groove that leaves a bold impression.
From Electro-Industrial to Noise, Synthpop to Darkwave, the California trio Matte Blvck command a spectrum appealing to both pop sensibilities and challenging aggressions. These songs revel in sharp potent synthetic aesthetics, assembling a gorgeous yet dystopian soundscape. Its vivid, striking, a crystal clear exploration of darkly futurist sci-fi imaginations, reflective of the modern state of music production.
The records structure is impressive, voiced tracks alternate with instrumentals that lean on percussive might and groove. Serving as shows of force, they signal talent, craft and care as its magnitudes shift focus. As a result, the album experience wins out. On the journey through its visions, strong touches of Synthwave, Techno, Trance and even a whiff of 90s Big Beat emerge. Vows is simply a delightful exploration of expression. A trove of treasures to return to and enjoy again. Truly impressive.
Rating: 8/10