If you hear the term “Swedish pop” and still think Abba or Ace of Base, then it’s time to check out the Radio Dept. and their long-awaited third album, Clinging to a Scheme.
This record completes the group’s shift from a guitar-based, lo-fi, shoe-gazer sound to something more like synth-based, hi-fi pop. And it is high fidelity. Each waxing reverberation, metered sizzle and modulated voice is rendered in crisp, bright sound, suggesting a tightly orchestrated tour through a colorful dreamland—a sense echoed by the polished organization of the album itself, which begins and ends in just under 35 minutes. “Heaven’s on Fire” and “Never Follow Suit” are our early favorites, though all 10 tracks only improve with repeat listens.
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