Cold Cave: Love Comes Close
Label: Matador
Philadelphia’s Cold Cave channels a Joy Division-recalling style of ominous synth-pop on their debut—but update it with coed vocals, a fierce electronic backbone and icy-hot sexual tension. Former hardcore singer Wesley Eisold (American Nightmare, Some Girls) unleashes a stunning baritone and delivers his lyrics with chilling intensity. Sharing vocal duties is Caralee McElroy (Xiu Xiu), who shines on the album’s most upbeat, dance-floor-ready tracks. Coyly toeing the line between romance and nihilism, or beauty and perversion, Love Comes Close is a thrilling listen. Cold Cave manages to sounds like the past, present, and future of pop music all at once. One of the year’s best. (Kiri)
