It’s been five years since Exit: Pursued by a Bear released their debut album – but as they facetiously put it, “they’re still at it, despite very little success and no effort whatsoever by the band members”.
The Cork quartet’s second album will appeal mostly to fans of ‘80s synthpop acts like The Human League and Depeche Mode, with a touch of soft-edged new romanticism thrown in for good measure. There are some decent songs amid the synths and throbbing basslines, like the enjoyably cheesy The Tallest Man and the funk-laced Pished!, although The Blind Spot’s lyrics are more than eyebrow-raising and their good intentions are often lost in the mire of cap-doffing to their heroes.
A little of that aforementioned effort might have made for a more original sound.