When the mysterious Silver Columns (recently outed as electronica folkies Adem Ilhan and Johnny ‘The Pictish Trail’ Lynch) released lead single ‘Brow Beaten’ – a screaming, HI-NRG Bronski Beat double-take – it seemed to signal the emergence of yet another synth band seduced by ’80s nostalgia. Not so.
Debut album ‘Yes And Dance’ reveals the duo to be more Hot Chip than hot pants. The brooding Moroder beats of ‘Heart Murmurs’, the metronomic ‘Columns’ and the playful electro chant of ‘Cavalier’, set against bubbling bleeps and teasing tangents, demonstrate Silver Columns as expert alchemists in the art of experimental pop.
7/10
Words by John Freeman
