Rainbow Arabia

On their debut LP, 2011's Boys and Diamonds, Rainbow Arabia bedecked secular synth pop with Arabic textures and polychromatic transmissions, placing the L.A. duo squarely on the path towards more ethereal, eclectic material. However, for their follow-up they decided to release FM Sushi, a waterlogged collection of synth-driven electro pop. Over ten tracks, vocalist Tiffany Preston manages to retain her pre-Blondie, post-Siouxsie film-noir delivery, stretching her melodies over husband Danny Preston's monophonic analogue rhythms. But on the pop-corny "He is Sorcerer," dark waver "Three Moons" and motorik ballad "Moments I Had," Rainbow Arabia manage to quash some genuinely good ideas with drawn-out melody lines and never-revving hooks. On this sophomore release, Rainbow Arabia attempt to pay tribute to the heyday of synth pop, but overlook the small details that could have made FM Sushi a pleasurable, Technicolor retelling. Instead, the listener is left with black-and-white new wave Cliff Notes.