Album Review: Strange Talk - Cast Away

The debut album from Strange Talk, Castaway is a product of two years of hard work that saw this Melbourne band jump out from the triple j Unearthed pack. It has elements reminiscent of a compilation, offering a wavering selection of song types and tempos. This album fits in perfectly as a soundtrack to a summer's evening with its heavy synth beats and charming '80s allusions, best played blaring from a car window or through headphones on a morning run.

The album starts with the title track and indeed one of the strongest. Castaway is laid-back and synth-laden with ruthless instrumentation that definitely intrigues. Falling In Love and Take Me As I Am are other highlights with their obvious dance beats throughout and melodic riffs.

Castaway is infectious electro-pop and occasionally sways dangerously closer to the pop variety but its clever hooks in Wanted (Dead or Alive) and So So La La enable 'Talk to circumvent that obstacle that is cheesy pop music and the negativity that it attracts.

Come Back Home is not one of the album's best as the synth almost transforms from smart pop references to the soundtrack to a poorly made black and white '80s montage with slow-running girls and long waving hair. The album would be fine without the track and its cumbersome effect on the listener is needless.

The album is self-produced and ambitiously at that. The safety net of producing your own music means that the final product still maintains ownership, portraying the real essence of the group and their musical styles. Touring with the record in March, Strange Talk are likely to gather a large crowd and impress with their electronic prowess.