- Astral Skulls debut full length Contact:Light is darker fare than the double A-side 7” that preceded it, Sexism Sux and Bite My Tongue, and it signals a slightly more electronic approach to their sound than those previous releases as well. I’ve been told by The New Releases Show’s producer and 4ZZZ’s Music Director, Chris Cobcroft, that this is known as “darkwave”. Who would'a thunk it, eh?

Landing kicks things off (excuse the pun) with a steady one-beat kick drum and what sounds like industrial valves being opened and closed, but it’s not until we get to the first single, Voices, with its spooky and instantly recognisable synth hook that the tone is truly set for Contact:Light.

My favourite track on here In The Sky comes fifth in the sequence. The apocalyptic soundscapes and beguiling hook of “I wish I could stay here” juxtaposed over the bleakest of the bleak synth, bass and guitars just really gets me right in the gut…

It’s followed by the pulsing, Suicide-esque Terraform. One of the most minimal on the LP; it builds itself up with anxious-noise over the course of three minutes to end with a guitar-driven lament. World’s Away reminds me a lot of the Grinderman song When my baby comes, maybe a little too much but it’s possible that that’s just me… The most dance-floor ready is The Other Side and its propulsive double synth parts and floor tom thumping. You can easily imagine being in one of those dark, European clubs at 3 o’clock on a Sunday morning swaying with this fierce, almost-gothic song.

Contact:Light is a great album for the dark-minded, or just the dark times, but don’t be expecting any respite from the aural assault. If I were to draw any comparison from my little knowledge of electronics- based music, it would be to the soundtracks to movies like Blade Runner by Vangelis or any of John Carpenter’s own.

- Nathan Kearney.