Have Joy Division been reincarnated? Beat Synthetic's self-titled album might lead some to think so. Their brand of electro-pop certainly has enough shades of goth to beg the question. The opener, "Middle Class Anxiety Dream", despite its somewhat hackneyed theme, is a great specimen of new '80s pop. It reminds me of Satisfact and, to some degree, Joy Electric (though it's not nearly as sugary). Its brooding atmosphere is a result of Clyde Rourke's icy vocal delivery and the band's distant, fuzzed out guitars and synths. "Too Late For Sorrow" is more of the same. It's a bit less moody than its predecessor, largely due to a brisker tempo, but it still has great atmosphere.

"Abandonment Dub" breaks a bit from the feel of the first two tracks. It's definitely dub, but more lounge than reggae. While the bassline follows the dub formula melodically, it's more agile than the fat, heavy subliminal lines of authentic dub. Along with the lighter bassline, Beat Synthetic employ sparse keyboard comping that has a sound reminiscent of a nine dollar Casio. Together these elements create a sound that is actually somewhat whimsical. It isn't until about four minutes into the tune, when Mr. Rourke starts moaning lyrics, that it starts to resemble the other tracks on the disc. "On My Own" is a bit like "Abandonment Dub" in that its jaunty tempo and slightly penny-whistle-like synth sounds add a bit of whimsy to its musical character.

The final four tracks bring back the darkish, electro-pop stylings of tracks one and two. I'm particularly impressed with "The Importance of Knowing All the Right People." It's subtle and controlled and thick with mood. Tunes like this really remind me of Joy Division.

For years before their dissolution, Satisfact seemed to have the corner on this kind of retro-pop sound. If Beat Synthetic keep following this route, they might well help to fill a newly formed void.