Dial M for Murder!

The initial knee-jerk is to kick DMFM! atop the teetering pile of Interpol/Joy Division sound-alikes that have been stacking up since, well, Interpol. The Swedish duo of David Ortenlöf and Andy Lantto surely wouldn't dispute a kinship to this tribe, and Ortenlöf's vocals have an undeniable Banks-ian quality. The half-size realities of being a two-piece turn out to be a boon, as the minimalist drum machines and synth fills establish a grey mood that never feels overwrought. It's a paring down that's reminiscent of the Cure's early skeletal ways. The vocals, swooping bass and choppy guitars of the title track are underwritten by Bauhaus' darker entries. More than just a sum of those influences, the duo's ability to write melodies and vocal hooks that immediately hardwire themselves into the cortex earns them a ticket out of the pack. Post-punk can always use a compact band with a compact plan that works.