Ballarat five-piece Gold Fields pick up the dance pop slack right where Cut Copy left off. Whilst the fingerprints of these and other artists from the recent summer festival circuits are obvious, it's the subtle influences of much older sounds sneaking in that really gives these guys an edge over less inspired outfits. There's a ton of different vibes being manipulated here, all done with a superb glossy finish that ensures longevity. Current trends fixated on artificial texture (chillwave, fratstep) are doomed to fade away, while pop groups like this that care about fidelity and good songwriting stand the test of time.
Black Sun is an album that freely presents itself as both a product of, and a companion to, its influences (Pet Shop Boys, yacht rock guitar work, sunny synth stabs from any number of Balearic bands of the last few years, even some Depeche Mode – there are so many!). It has a good colour palette, playing with moody purple hues and bright sunny chords. It has wordless hooks and slinky choruses whispered through curled lips.
It's a really strong album full of detail and clean production flourishes. It's a disciplined work that shows great maturity and feels collaborative not only between its members but the folks working around them too. Mickey Petralia (Peaches, Ladytron) and Scott Horscroft (The Presets, Sleepy Jackson) share desk duties and the experience shows on a great debut. Check it out!
