On the second full-length from Drop The Lime, Luca Venezia throws down heavy beats that probably won’t lure anyone not previously so inclined onto the dance floor, yet the album never gives those already there a reason to leave.
As the title suggests, the songs themselves loosely share an afterhours theme, invoked by the opening “Wake Up Call”: “This city is calling/On your hopes and your dreams/Midnight is falling/Till the skies ever bleed.” After the brief intro arrives an intimidating wall of rhythm that commands obedience, announcing that the party starts here.
The first half of the album is nearly flawless in its pace, leaving little room to breathe. The vocals steer the songs away from being purely beat-driven and give them a mostly memorable pop edge. “Coal Oven Fires” has a couple of vocal breaks that offer a brief respite, while the soul-tinged singing in “Butterscotch” briefly lends the song a poignant touch. The album stumbles a little bit in the second half, starting with “E-Lock,” a more traditional dance track that’s ultimately forgettable but for the snarky laugh that occasionally intrudes. “Bella” comes across as a short, obnoxious remix more than something truly original. Following this, however, is the highlight of the album, “Full Moon Rising,” an energetic, rabble-rousing stomp with a recurring group chorus that, after a string section salve, returns for the last time with its ranks swollen by a legion. The ending of the album is awkward, starting with “Triceratops,” a repetitive instrumental that goes on for too long. “Turn Out the Lights” is a peaceful down-tempo song that would have been a nice ending, but instead the disc ends with “Skyline Fantasy,” which isn’t that bad in itself, but considering that the lights have already been turned off, comes across as the last guest at the party who refuses to acknowledge that the night is over, everyone has left, and it’s time to go home.
Despite a few slips, the rest of the album is a necessary reminder of how much fun good dance music can be.
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