Konkylie

VINYL FORMAT. When Saints Go Machine's debut album Konkylie has been two years in the making, and it sees them moving their sound on into new, uncharted territory. On "Parix," Nikolaj's spectral vocals, a mix of Antony Heggarty's tremulous falsetto and Talk Talk frontman Mark Hollis, are pitched against a shimmering mirage of synths. There's an echo of their clubland past on "Kelly," which is underpinned by a chugging, mid-paced beat. It's the jumping off point for four-minutes of electro-pop perfection. Nikolaj's vocals, meanwhile, are never more beautiful than on the closing track, "Add Ends," where they float over skillfully orchestrated strings and gently popping electronics. It's an atmospheric reverie that transports you to another place.