❉ The Swedish synth-poppers continue to forge their way, with a few curve balls thrown in for good measure, writes Ange Chan.
We Are Cult favourites MORE – the Swedish synth pop duo consisting of Magnus, Lino and Mattias – are due to release their third album, Moments, on the back of single releases earlier this year, which gave us a taste of what was to come. In the wake of their previous album Appraisal, as reviewed by We Are Cult. the band took some time to recharge their batteries but they came together earlier this year to produce the single Fall Behind (Sometimes). It’s the first song on Moments, which they released in February this year, realising that the MORE magic was still there, during an intense weekend of creativity. The chaps have evidently been continuing to work hard on this third album, and the results are typically MORE with a few curve balls thrown in for good measure.
Fall Behind (Sometimes) is a classic MORE track which is reminiscent of a-Ha meets Depeche Mode, circa their Some Great Reward period. Delivered with all the Swedish efficiency, the track is a great opener for the album and is quintessentially MORE, echoing their unmistaken trademark sound. This was previously described as a ‘gentle banger’!
Moving on the track two, Posh and Easy, where the analogue synth sounds meld perfectly with Magnus’ lead vocals, and which punctuate the backing melody. In contrast to this, Better Than Me has a sombre sensibility and melancholic feel with sympathetic synth sounds. As the song develops, it draws you into a more positive experience, leaving the initial sadness behind.
Track Four is Shotgun to the Head, which has influences of VNV Nation or De/Vision as the track charters into the periphery of Industrial synth territory, whilst still maintaining the wave of MORE’s classic style. It’s a concept that works, and I’d personally love to see them experiment with this fusion more in the future.
On the track Going Nowhere, the pace is slowed right down for this thought-provoking, self-depreciating song. The emotional melody matches the overall morose feeling, as the track progresses into a haunting anti-crescendo, with almost whispered vocals, echoing the feeling of helplessness within the song.
Conversely, The Way She Goes returns to more of a classic, upbeat proposition reminiscent of the MORE offerings we are already familiar with. This track would easily have fitted in on their second album, giving us the comfortable version of MORE which we know and love. The lyrics offer a Depeche Mode sensibility of ‘hopeful desperation’ in lines such as ‘all I wanted was for you to feel the same’.
We’re halfway through the album already, and we’re presented with One Thing, which has an array of spurious soundscapes which punctuate the melody of this track, with Magnus’ gentle vocals melding seamlessly with the electronica. It forms a beautiful harmonious output of man and machine in perfect synchronicity. Track eight is Righteous Foolishness, another MORE classic in the making, whereas Exactly Who We Were, has those heavy synth sounds we were treated to earlier in the album, this time morphing into a sombre yet melodic accompaniment of the vocals at a funereal pace where each lyric is emphasised.
The penultimate track on the album, People Live in Sin carries the MORE banner proudly both lyrically and musically throughout the track, offering the juxtaposition between everyday life and personal relationships. It was also released as a single on 2nd August, directly preceding the album release.
The final track on the album is Shattered Glass, is reminiscent of a Bob Dylan track. The band released a homage to Dylan’s classic One More Cup of Coffee on his 81st birthday this year, so it’s no real surprise that they decided to produce yet another track which is more Dylan-like in its delivery. The avant garde backing punctuates a semi-autobiographical lyric, and the harmony is punctuated with spurious drum sounds, highlighting the random spirit of a different kind of life.
Overall, the album offers some of the classic MORE sounds you’ll be familiar with, but also wanders off into new directions which are exciting and adventurous. I enjoyed listening to this album and the diversity it offered. MORE continue to forge their way into the synth scene whilst remaining firmly established. I look forward to listening to their Moments, more and more.
❉ MORE’s third album MOMENTS is released on 23rd August 2024 and is mastered by Patrik Hansson (Vanguard, Uncreated). It is available to buy or stream via Bandcamp. Pre-order here: https://morethecrew.bandcamp.com/album/moments-2
❉ MORE Socials: Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | Twitter
❉ Ange Chan is a Freelance Writer, having produced two novels and six volumes of poetry. A prominent contributor to Me and the Starman (available by Cult Ink on Amazon) and lifelong lover of music, Ange is also We Are Cult’s Social Media Administrator.
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