Collapsing New People- Collapsing New World

Collapsing New World, the second release from Austrian trio Collapsing New People, is an electronics-heavy blend of something old and something new. Their first full-length release since the departure of Loona Cox and the arrival of new member Lola Blixx, Collapsing New World finds the band tearing through about 46 minutes of politically and socially charged, pop-infused post-punk and new wave. Very well written and produced, with songs often sporting very memorable interludes or finales, it's a diverse and interesting 12-song set.

The album gets off to a good start with the bouncy synth bass and poppy drum programming of "The Beginning of the End" before the sinister "Burning Flags", one of the more post-punk-oriented songs here, offers up mysterious synths atop a rock interior complete with slightly snarled vocals and a spiffy pop interlude. "Meat Machine (Paid Advertising)", one of the album's more upbeat new wave pop tracks, utilizes clever lyrics ("Old McDonald's has a farm") and related advertising slogans/trademarks to nice effect.

The album's best tracks seem to fall around its center. "Collapse Collide Capitulate" is a great blend of bubbly arpeggios, breathy male vocals, and simple but infectious synth work that includes a spectacular chorus hook. "Blank Generation" is a simple song that effectively relies on interesting, intricate production as much as songwriting. Its danceable, rhythmic drum machine and synth bass substructure is accented by echoing, spacious processed sound, synths, and great female vocals, concluding with a processed woodwind finale. "Colour of the Year", on the other hand, is the disc's most straightforward, radio-friendly synthpop outing, ultra-catchy synth bass and intertwining melodies with breathy male vocals.

The political lyrics of "Majority Report", hitting on both the Austrian and American elections, are accompanied by a punchy new wave musical frame and a strong chorus, while "Regressive Attack" is, musically, a much darker affair. "Off the Track" kicks the tempo up for a lovely, moody foray into goth rock territory, lead guitar and vocals, drenched in plenty of reverb and delay, taking the spotlight. The disc's title track, oddly but successfully, comes off as something of a blend of 80s pop and Siouxsie and the Banshees' "Night Shift". "Song without Words", its lyrics an amusing declaration that the song is pointless and its meaning can't be expressed in words, is a rhythmic outing with great production and excellent sparse melodic work. The closing "Smoke & Spotlight", alternately, delves into powerful, moody female-fronted rock, its guitar arpeggios and driving percussion and bass ending the album on a strong note.

As a whole, Collapsing New World is a very good album. Sure, there are rough edges here and there and occasional lyrical clues that English isn't the band's first language, but the album's strong songwriting and production shine through brightly. Perhaps a bit poppier and more upbeat than the band's debut (as well as significantly better produced and recorded), Collapsing New People's latest is a solid release that's likely to please fans of retro new wave, electronic-infused post-punk, and, perhaps, 80s industrial.