whomadewho: ember

Genre-bending Copenhagen trio WhoMadeWho continue their string of acclaimed releases, including their 2005 self-titled debut, 2012's chart-topping Brighter, and 2014's Dreams, which was touted by many as one of the best things to come from the indie-dance sector of music in some time. No surprise coming from a band that's played and toured alongside the likes of Justice, LCD Soundsystem, Daft Punk, and Hot Chip, who, in 2011, also asked to remix the trio's song "TV Friend" while WhoMadeWho covered "Don't Dance" in return. Other remixers include underground heavy-hitters The Mole, DJ Koze, and Michael Mayer, proving WhoMadeWho's ability to go from mega-stage to basement seamlessly. Ember is another foray into the world of machine music and dreamy soundscapes, in which the band stays true to its pop tendencies while spinning things around and taking a trip right back to its roots. Band member Tomas Barfod, who also produced the release, says, "After many years of emphasizing 'the song' more and more, we felt like just playing around with our instruments, like when we recorded our first album... it was like renewing our band-wedding vows; we found our way back to our fun and free approach of making music together." "Fun" and "free" might very well be two of the best ways to describe this seven-track creation of skewed pop, surf-rock, and slow, meaningful dance music. Beachy guitar licks, ethereal crooning, and enough distinct flavor to set each track apart from the rest, in the dreamy puzzle that is Ember.