Clinging To A Scheme by The Radio Dept.
LABEL: Labrador 

Swedish band The Radio Dept. effortlessly crafts that washed-out, melancholic pop music so many other bands struggle to get just right—though it has been four years since the band’s last release. Perhaps it's not so effortless for them after all.

But that long hiatus was definitely put to good use. Clinging To A Scheme is sonically very tight and self-contained, full of little touches that come out upon repeated listens and really elevate the album. Alternating from lo-fi shoegaze, to hip-hop beats and Joy Division-style synth washes, The Radio Dept. unapologetically cribs from the 1980s, but makes the sounds its own.

Though it clocks in at just under 35 minutes, Clinging To A Scheme is littered with more hooks and infectious moments then it's running time would suggest. “David” layers string hits, shuffling drums, and wistful lyrics into a party-ready song about an empty playboy. Repetition and deftly sampled instruments grant “Never Follow Suit” a nostalgic air, and the song is flawlessly bridged with a found audio clip of a boastful graffiti artist, that, together with the song’s message, is strangely poignant.

Ultimately, Clinging To A Scheme reveals itself after a few listens to be a masterful pop album. And though I was not terribly familiar with them before hearing this album, as it's grown on me, I can easily see why they have such a dedicated fan base.


REVIEWED BY MAT LINDENBERG
MAT’S FAVORITE TRACKS: “Never Follow Suit” • “Memory Loss” • “Token Of Gratitude”