Radio 4

Stealing of a Nation (Astralwerks)
by Evan Solochek

As soon as I got done reviewing VHS Or Beta, I came across the new Radio 4 album. Would it be wrong to cut and paste or, perhaps, simply write “See Above”? Probably.

Anyway, I’ve been a Radio 4 fan since I first heard the chugging bass of “Our Town” off 2002’s Gotham, and I’m pleased to say that their follow up, Stealing of a Nation, is every bit as sexy and striking. More polished than many of their peers, Radio 4 offers up a blend of electro-infused post-punk that goes beyond the ubiquitous raw energy and low-fi aesthetic. Songs like the placid “Fra Type 1 & 2” and the melancholy “Absolute Affirmation” show a much more fully developed sound that’s not just concerned with sexual energy. That’s not to say, however, that Radio 4 has lost their libido. They just know the importance of growth and maturity. Present still are the pounding bass lines, the eerie ambient guitar, and the snarling vocals. It’s nice to know that there is more to Radio 4 then just the tried and true.
(www.astralwerks.com)