S.Lo on January 11th, 2019

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L.A. (by way of Phoenix) duo Madeleine Miller and Bret Bender have woven their vocal and synth lines together in Bogan Via since 2012. Recounting how their second full-length (not counting their two EPs), “Tough to Kill,” bloomed, Bender says “It was inspired by the grit, chaos, and brief moments of beauty in the alcohol-soaked alley ways of Los Angeles.”

Synth-pop with R&B, hip-hop, disco and old-school goth elements (and the occasional light touch of industrial), the album is early-to-mid-’80 Ministry if Al Jourgensen stayed with Arista and added a female co-songwriter. Given that didn’t happen, “Tough to Kill” is a nice “choose this storyline” flashback of that exciting era of emerging styles in a complex fusion that didn’t always happen at the time as seamlessly as Bogan Via does today. And they blend the genres organically without feeling contrived or forced. Being self-produced and recorded with further mixing help by their long-time Phoenix friend, producer Le Tronz, may have afforded them the space to spread their musical senses as far as they wanted to take them.

Lyrically, Miller and Bender explore issues of self-doubt, relationship doubt, attraction, needing to break free and finding the right balance. “This record is actually quite upbeat despite the aching of self-reflection and doubt that runs throughout the tracks,” said Bender. Indeed, dysfunction can grow old, so hopeful moments such as in the song, “I Want U, I Want U Too,” become a welcome relief from emotional pain as Bender raps with forthrightness, “If you really really really wanna be her man / Show some class / Listen first / She’ll come back.” Welcome to 2019.

||| Stream: “Tough to Kill” (full album)

||| Live: Bogan Via holds their album release party at School Night at Bardot this coming Monday, Jan. 14, opening for Blacktop Queen, the Strike and WASI. Free with RSVP