Deep, dark and lush, Vitesse's sophomore outing is a real find for fans of ‘80s synth-pop. From the opening minor key pulse of "When Nothing's Changed" to the closing keyboards of "Swinging Bachelor Pad," the duo of Hewson Chen and Joshua Klein create melancholy magic. There is no disguising the goth gods who inspired these songs: the opening track is clearly the child of Joy Division, "Brighter than the Sky" is indebted to the Church and if it weren't for Chen's especially languid vocals, "Philosophy or Forgetfulness" could be an out-take from the Cure's Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me.

"If this album is so easily referenced, what makes it worth listening to," you ask? Put simply, the songs are great. Straightforward melodies and uncluttered structures make the tracks instantly accessible -- a knack that was not lacking in the best of the aforementioned bands. There is no questioning the emotional nakedness invested in each song, but rather than provoking an embarrassed, voyeuristic repulsion, they create a genuine connection with the listener. This sense of immersion is heightened by the lo-fi production, which uses tape hiss to create a soft, enveloping mist. Out of this cloud emerge gentle, arpeggiated guitar lines and flowing, synthesized strings. Occasionally, as on "Good Fortune" or "Everything's Amiss," drum loops reminiscent of the work of New Order's Steven Morris join the other instruments. The results are strong enough to stand up alongside New Order's Movement, a statement I do not make lightly. By way of contrast, take "A Kiss, an Interrogation." Here, sitar-like guitar combines with a pedal steel effect to create a shimmering pop bubble which rises until it is burst by a skittering drum machine. Other subtle touches, such as the bells in the bridge of "These Long Centuries," are discovered through multiple listens. The fact that the album holds up to repeated scrutiny rather than fading into a pale image of its influences points to the skill and earnestness with which Vitesse have constructed their songs. It is this solid foundation that makes the music of Joy Division and the Psychedelic Furs relevant fifteen years after its release -- and points to a promising future for Vitesse.