Album review: The Whip, ‘X Marks Destination’

Kevin Bronson on April 20th, 2009

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The Whip, “X Marks Destination” (Razor & Tie) – How do you make dance music that isn’t necessarily original but still sounds fresh? Manchester, U.K., quartet the Whip has managed to do so on its debut, unabashedly worshiping at the altar of New Order, Duran Duran, LCD Soundsystem and even, at moments, evoking the rockist house music of Utah Saints. Whether laying out synths with the sheen of the Cure or integrating effects that suggest video games come to life on a crowded dancefloor, the Whip makes it all seem organic. The single “Trash” figures to be everywhere (if it isn’t already) by the time summer is out, and “Divebomb” shows the techno chops the band has used in remixes for the likes of Editors and Sons & Daughters. That the Whip’s lyrics stay from the overly cheesy or the cringingly romantic helps too – considering what the Whip set out to do, “X Marks Destination” could be a horrible record. It isn’t, by a long shot. Highly recommended.