Avant! Italy Vinyl & CDs

Review: Following on from their standout debut album Benevolence in 2019, Skemer return with a second record for Italian label Avant! The duo of Kim Peers and Mathieu Vandekerckhove have tapped into a fertile strain of dark wave with a seductive gothic mood which should be essential listening for fans of The Cure et al. There's a pervading gloom to tracks like 'Easy To Embrace' but it's offset by the motorik thrust of the drums, and there's a generous dose of pop nous to ensure these shadowy songs land with a broad audience. If you're looking for a soundtrack to shortening days in the Northern Hemisphere, this album is a must-check.