Retro CultureWonderland On The Radio
Indie

- If you've been paying attention to the singles you will already have heard most of Retro Culture's latest EP, Wonderland On The Radio. Even so, it may surprise you, there's a lot under the hood, especially in just five tracks. Some of the styles that are being channelled are more obvious than others: the overriding influence has to be Wham!  Retro Culture's main man, Matt Connelly, has a voice that is such a wonderful echo of George Michael that it would be a crime not to match it to lush synth-pop. Fortunately Connelly does exactly that and his skills as an instrumentalist and producer meet the benchmark set by his voice.

Just underneath the surface, his fascination with synth-wave is also fairly easy to pick up on, an obsession he developed listening to Cliff Martinez and The Chromatics on the Drive OST. Just check out that single Heart Attack, the purring synth, Justice-esque intro, soon overwhelmed by pop sweetness – I'd feel robbed if the pop weren't as good as it is. On Wonderland Connelly is joined by a full band which really helps to flesh out the authentic new wave stylings. I've heard it said that Connelly's efforts are a little too effusively, shallowly pop – but isn't that the point? I think it's right there in the name he chose for the project: it's a lovingly authentic recreation.

Even then, there are still other little kinks to unpick in the Retro Culture sound, beyond the lush pop that is its signature. These little inflections help provide staying power – something to jump out you on repeat listens. These kind of subtle variations have been present -in one form or another- since Connelly started putting out releases. If you go back to 2013's Weekend you'll recognise the Retro Culture that you hear, but it's also studded with hip hop beats which contrast distinctly with the overall quieter, shyer approach, recalling the soft ambient pop of chillwavers like Washed Out, rather than presenting with the brashness you'll hear in 2017.

In the present day, every now and then you'll hear more of those hip hop beats, along with autotune, pitch-shifting and some of the 'thumbs-through-the-belt-loops' machismo of PBR'n'b artists like The Weeknd, of whom Connelly is an unabashed fan. You'll hear it especially strongly on a cut like Samo where the mood veers away from the heartbreak of Bad Romance and Heart Attack and fronts quite hard as Connelly breezily quips “Don't fuck with my love!” I'm really glad that stuff like this is in here. It might contradict the Retro Culture moniker a little (unless 2013 is already retro) but it also gives Connelly breathing space: his music isn't limited to that one period. If you think about other '80's revivalists, like Client Liaison (who are fans of Retro Culture, by the way): they're great, but I just can't imagine them trying to slip in a Flume style dance banger. Retro Culture is in the enviable position of having built in a little stylistic leg-room, so no-one needs to lose their mind if the band decide to do something a little bit different.

Your level of enjoyment will, of course, be based on how much you need a new George Michael in your life. If that's you, then it and all the other little things that go to together to make up Retro Culture, add up to something pretty special indeed.

- Chris Cobcroft.

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