Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys - Pale Bloom (Unique/Schubert) [Alt-pop/rock]
- The Slow Music Movement
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
*** This blog post first appeared in TSMM's March 22nd Newsletter, where you can get all the tips (and more) first ***
I stumbled across Lucy Kruger and the Lost Boys in September last year when the LP teasing “Anchor” was released and have been patiently waiting for the full-length to drop ever since. Well, five months later, it’s here and I’m happy to report that this alt-pop rock outfit and their South African leading lady have smashed it.
First off, she’s got a voice - variously sweet, serious, sensual, scathing and arse kicking depending on her mood, and the LP opener sees her vocals rightfully given pride of place. You’re never far away from a driving bass line with Kruger, and next track up - “Damp” sets off on its gaseous alt-rock course with just the sort of bass line to get heads nodding, even if the tempo isn’t very supportive. The disingenuously entitled “Ambient Heat” is next, with it’s angular, distorted guitar turning off the lights, and Kruger wading in too, overshadowing the sweeter backing vocals.
The album is full of moody, bold but considered guitar and synth declarations - a sound that should unite grizzled, old-school, roll-up smoking Berlin heads and vaping, flea market-scouring hipsters trying to be cool by looking sulky and just living in its gentrified ruins. There are moments of calm in the mix too, with “Nectarine” initially charting an acoustic singer-songwriter course before morphing into ambient post-rock territory, although straight after your hit with the disorienting “Animal/Symbol”, that sounds like it’s had one joint and a doom scroll too many, and if you make it through, you’ll be further swiped with the heavy post-rocking “Reaching”, with Kruger variously rasping and singing over the sonic waves. This is alternative pop, scowling alt-rock and band powered singer-songwriting with attitude. Kruger and crew are saying something, and saying it with style.
Playlist Companion
Find Kruger in the Slow Alt-Pop Playlist.
