The Wombats have managed to do something more with their electro-rock indie-dance, injecting a sadness, even desperation into their big, catchy beats & sounds. This is the band that dances to Joy Division. Even when they celebrate, they acknowledge the spectre at the dance hall, like on Fix Yourself, Not the World.
The big dance-catch of The Wombats is back in spades, along with singer Matthew Murphy’s wryly dark lyrics on pieces such as “This Car Drives All by Itself”, “If You Ever Leave, I’m Coming with You”, “People Don’t Change People, Time Does”, “Don’t Poke the Bear”, and more. Nerves are both sooth and frayed on “Worry”. “Everything I Love Is Going to Die” manages to be both sad and upbeat. There are some slower tracks that don’t stand out as much, but everyone needs to take breath now & then.
The world is very imperfect (and seems to get more so by the day), and we’re all not sure if we want to get back on the dance floor. But whenever we do, The Wombats will be a fitting return.
