In 2005, Tom Vek created a minor splash in the U.K. when his debut, We Have Sound, spawned four Top 100 singles. After signing with Island Records, the London, England multi-instrumentalist took six years to release his lacklustre follow-up, Leisure Seizure, promptly killing off any momentum he may have built. Luck, LP number three, has Vek back at square one as he tries to rebuild his audience with a batch of earnest, dynamic drum-machine pop. Drawing comparisons to James Murphy, another musician who kicked off his career in 2005, Vek crafts dance-y indie that relies on angular melodies and rounded rhythms.
On the undyingly catchy "Sherman (Animals in the Jungle)," the polyrhythmic self-duet "Pushing Your Luck" and the wide-eyed "Ton of Bricks," Vek promptly moves his demeanour from tossed-off cool to shout-out mania. Unfortunately, the album is a bit top heavy, as the second half finds Vek recycling some tired-but-true ideas. On Luck, Vek has released some of the strongest material of his career; here's hoping there's still someone out there to pay attention.
(Moshi Moshi)On the undyingly catchy "Sherman (Animals in the Jungle)," the polyrhythmic self-duet "Pushing Your Luck" and the wide-eyed "Ton of Bricks," Vek promptly moves his demeanour from tossed-off cool to shout-out mania. Unfortunately, the album is a bit top heavy, as the second half finds Vek recycling some tired-but-true ideas. On Luck, Vek has released some of the strongest material of his career; here's hoping there's still someone out there to pay attention.
