Ever since their early singles,
Justice
have challenged expectations, and on
Hyperdrama
, they show no sign of stopping. Given that eight years separate this album and its predecessor,
Woman
, it could be assumed that
Gaspard Augé
and
Xavier de Rosnay
were ready to take dancefloors by storm once again, but on
, atmosphere is king. The duo recorded the album at
de Rosnay
's home studio, and it often sounds like dance music for a night in; on "Dear Alan," vinyl-like crackles permeate drifting clouds of synths and intricate bass. At other times, the album feels strangely distant, like music coming from a club a few blocks away, as on the aptly named "Afterimage," where
RIMON
's breathily pretty vocals heighten the track's overall wispiness.
Tame Impala
brings enough presence to both "Neverender" and "One Night/All Night" to lend some momentum to their blurry grooves.
dials up the energy when
Miguel
comes in loud and clear on the new jack-tinged "Saturnine" and
Thundercat
presides over the moody disco-funk of "The End," while "Generator"'s looming synth riffs, choppy textures, and rolling beats show that they can reinvigorate their signature style without relying on played-out buildups and breakdowns. ~ Heather Phares