Daggers

Seven years after the formation of their duo All Hail the Silence, American electronic musician BT and English singer/songwriter Christian Burns (BBMak) finally released their '80s synth pop-inspired debut, Daggers. While the union might seem surprising, Burns had already been dabbling in electronic music -- even collaborating with BT over a number of tracks in the early 2010s -- before they decided to form an official duo. While their early partnerships featured progressive house energy and hard-hitting beats fit for clubs and festivals, Daggers focuses on the chilly pop textures of '80s synth pop and new wave, echoing heavy-hitters of the era like Erasure, Depeche Mode, Yaz, OMD, and the Human League. Similar to other new wave revivalists such as the Black Queen, Blaqk Audio, or even Fischerspooner, All Hail the Silence do a fine job mimicking the dark synthesizers, pulsing beats, and dramatic lyrics of their '80s forebears. From the soaring "The Alarm" and the shimmering "Temptation" to the urgent "Diamonds in the Snow" and the pensive "Looking Glass," there are enough reasons to commit to this project, especially for fans still keeping up with late-era Depeche Mode. Amongst the more energized inclusions, BT makes sure to flex his more experimental muscles, offering hypnotic soundscapes such as "Safety in Numbers" and "Time," which lower the heart rate and allow Burns' voice to take center stage. While this kind of homage can sometimes risk sounding like cover band cosplay, Daggers is certainly not a novelty. BT and Burns are naturals, effortlessly blending sparkling and familiar production with earnest vocals honed by years in the pop sphere. ~ Neil Z. Yeung