Ears Wide Open: Mirror Talk

Kevin Bronson on October 25th, 2013

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Structurally, a lot of Mirror Talk’s EP sounds like somebody moved into a mansion once owned by Depeche Mode and, rather than just rearrange the furniture, gave the place a facelift. The L.A. quartet of Court Alexander, Steven Lopez, Sean Krell and Dave Lewis, dispenses big swatches of New Wave that recall the best of the ’80s instead of the also-rans. The foursome had previously released only one single, 2011’s “Choose Life,” and by contrast “Too Late to Start” and “Don’t” sound like smashes. They’ve been working with top-drawer producer Tony Hoffer, whose credits include Beck, M83, Silversun Pickups, Foster the People and Fitz & the Tantrums (he mixed Depeche Mode’s 2009 album), so naturally doesn’t sound like it just fell out of somebody’s Macbook Pro. Sensual grooves, sumptuous synths and, in Alexander, a crooner who can sell them. Member Only jacket, dusted off and at the ready.

||| Stream: “Too Late to Start” and “Don’t”