Let me be straight up with my biases here – my previous encounters with Gotye’ work are limited to a single track (a remix at that) of the 80′ hit song “I just can’ get enough’ by Depeche Mode. Now, even Depeche Mode refuse to play this song live these days but, Gotye’ reworking of a simple pop song is something approaching the divine. I’m swooning like a teengirl just thinking about it. I literally can’ seem to get enough of this track and it has tainted my impression of what Gotye’ sound is all about. I prefer to think of Gotye as, above all, a romantic lyricist with a synthesiser driven alt-pop sensibility.
So how does “Like Drawing Blood’ come off against such a strong first impression? Well, it certainly does not disappoint. He’ simply dreamy when singing “Love Ain’ Fair†on “Hearts A Mess’ or sharing his hopes of a lost lover’ impending return in “Coming Back’. Similarly, “Night Drive’ is another sad song that offers the most warmth in the intimacy it reveals. But here’ the twist – Gotye possesses an (unexpectedly) mixed bag of musical tricks up his sleeve. His melancholy moods are disrupted occasionally with a jolt of happiness – like the catchy, swinging homage to Northern Soul in “Learnalilgivinanlovin’. “Thanks for Your Time’ is playfully sarcastic and “A Distinctive Sound’, is a quirky slice of retro turntabilism reminiscent of Mr Scruff or Kid Koala. With these tracks Gotye demonstrates his versatility but it’s going to take me a while to accept the fact that he’ not heartbroken all of the time. I will be sobbing at home about it whilst Gotye celebrates the success of his new album, and so he should, this is most promising work.
Renae Mason
