Delorean

Barcelona's Delorean appeared like a warm, unexpected summer breeze when their debut LP, Subiza, dropped in March 2010. The album's unflappable, Balearic sound experienced a zeitgeist moment, evoking the feel-good vibe that was sweeping international clubs. Over the last three years, however, the quartet have had a bumpy ride, falling victim to Spain's economic crisis, as well as a romantic one for singer/lyricist/bassist Ekhi Lopeteg. This grief formed the basis for Delorean's sophomore album, Apar, which was recorded in their studio and billed by the band as their "big production album." For anyone hoping to keep the party going, the transition from Subiza to Apar is a bitter pill to swallow. The bombastic club feel has been stripped away, along with the high-pitched samples, allowing the music to mirror the weight of lyrical sentiment. Disappointingly, the so-called enhanced production isn't obvious. Tracks like "Keep Up" and "Unhold," featuring Chairlift's Caroline Polachek, doing her best Liz Fraser impression, show marked progress in arranging their songs, but there's nothing that surpasses the magic they accomplished with less money on Subiza. "You Know It's Right" tries to get the party started, but only half-heartedly, as Lopeteg sounds like the guy in the corner who'd rather be anywhere else. It's hard to hear a group fall so flat on the follow-up to an album like Subiza, but even though there are some bright moments, Apar is undoubtedly a letdown.