Phèdre

Phèdre's debut full-length was a shimmering ode to glamorous excess. Anchored by stellar single "In Decay," the album was a left-field surprise that catapulted the Toronto, ON act to international attention. However, if Phèdre was the height of the empire, Golden Age is the post-apocalyptic hangover. Recorded in Berlin this past winter, its genesis stands in stark contrast to its predecessor, which was born out of a single booze-soaked weekend. Less tuneful, with a greater emphasis on rhythm, its sound mirrors the dark turn Daniel Lee and April Aliermo's garage rock project, Hooded Fang, took on their most recent effort. Fidelity improvements are matched by a move towards more conscious lyrical content, floating between bursts of digital sound. "Ancient Noveau" is inspired by Attawapiskat First Nations' Chief Theresa Spence, while "Atomic Love" addresses environmental destruction. Although it pushes their sonic boundaries forward, Golden Age lacks the sense of wanton fun Lee and Aliermo captured so well on their debut, failing to match its bubbling effervescence.