The sophomore full-length effort from the London-based indie pop group fronted by dual lead vocalist/songwriters
Ben Moorhouse
and
Leo Duncan
,
Future Perfect, Present Tense
follows the same sonic trajectory as
Ten Fe
's languid 2017 debut. Warm, weary, sugary, and succinct, the 11-track set is as stately as it is staid. The group's pop acumen is apparent throughout, with standout cuts like "Won't Happen," "Coasting," and "Caught on the Inside" evoking the classic rock-meets-'80s pop emissions of
the War on Drugs
and the radio-ready finesse of
Tunnel of Love
-era
Bruce Springsteen
. Love and longing -- and the myriad complexities that happen in between -- dominate the proceedings, lending an air of verisimilitude to the retro-soft pop vibe. ~ James Christopher Monger