The third album from Canadian husband/wife combo Handsome Furs sees them stretching their talent for electro-pop to its limit. Dan Boeckner of Wolf Parade (QRO live review) fame fronts the duo, but although similarities between his bands can be drawn, Handsome Furs are, to use a cliché, like Wold Parade on speed.
There are beautifully simplistic electro rock songs found in "When I Get Back" and "What About Us", in which the sound crashes around your head infecting you with an overwhelming desire to dance. All throughout, the record never lets up; it doesn’t dwindle at the end or pause for a slow-dance half way through. Even slower tracks like "Serve the People" are still anthemistic enough to maintain the momentum of the album. Right up to the closing tracks of "Cheap Music" and the epic "No Feelings", there’s no escape from the sheer energy of it all.
Caught somewhere between the soundtrack of an all-action film and the best party you’ve ever been too, Sound Kapital can be almost exhausting at points. Regaling tales of love and politics, each song is packed with passion. Although the synth-y keyboard is slightly over-used, there’s not much else negative to say about this record. Not great for bedtime listening, but great for pretty much any other time.
MP3 Stream: "Serve the People"
