’80s-retro, dark, dance rock. Simple but dynamic songs. Rather clinical playing and vocal delivery. NYC’s Interpol make music that’s very similar to that on the 1979 debut by Cowboys International (although more heavy-handed and less interesting, imho. oops. am i being negative?). Also a bit like New Order (but not Joy Division), early U2, and Bauhaus. Daniel Kessler sounds a lot like CI’s vocalist, Ken Lockie, and also a lot like Patrick Fitzgerald, singer for Kitchens Of Distinction. Mid-tempo unless noted. FCC: 1. Start with 4, 9, 10.

1. FCC: “shit.” Mid-slow. Starts with solo organ. A simple, somewhat romantic rock ballad. Energy and lushness builds, then ends again with organ.
2. Starts with bass guitar. First verse is bass and drums only. Dynamic arrangement, varying from very quiet to very loud. Ends loud then fades.
3. Starts with solo electric guitar. Another dynamic song. This one has quiet verse and wall-of-sound chorus. Bridge sounds Television-esque (apart from vox).
==> 4. Starts with feedback guitar, which remains prominent. Very early-U2 like.
5. Mid-fast. Starts with double electric guitar. “Can’t you see what you’ve done to my heart? This is a wasteland now.” Ends suddenly, with a few seconds left on the track.
6. Starts with full band. Noisy to start. A bit more discordant than the other songs here (which sounds good to me). Slow fade.
7. Mid-slow. Starts with slow-picked guitar. Fairly sparse/open verse arrangement, with much more forward chorus. Feedback guitar at end.
8. Starts with strummed guitar. Interesting song structure. Ends suddenly.
==> 9. Starts with two-note, repetitive solo guitar. Dark... very Bauhaus-like. Ends with upward glissando and a bit of noise.
==> 10. Mid-slow, starts almost sounding like Magazine. But then it’s a goth U2 fronted by Ken Lockie. Very nice manipulation of musical tension. Ends with fading piano note and then several seconds of silence.