This is the forth studio-album from this American-act, and their first since the release of their previous album Future Future Future Perfect in 2007, doing so then as a trio, but, now returning as a quartet, minus one original-member who seemly departed in early-2009, a year that also marked the bands tenth-anniversary, and now plus two new-members to complete their currant line-up as the afore mentioned quartet, while this album of a dozen-tracks was self-released by the band themselves, doing so through their own Archenemy label. Freezepop have always been noted for having something of a quirky and fun element to their sound, style and live-work, which in-turn somewhat neatly falls into place with Synth Pop in general, their somewhat simplistic sound combining well with the almost deadpan-like female vocals. There are a number of excellent tracks here, from the solid mid-paced to up-tempo Doppelganger, which moves along nicely at a steady beat, building well to its chorus, the solid mid-paced rhythm and chunky bass of Magnetic, complete with a neat synth lead, the equally strong and solid Hypothetically with its mid-paced chunky rhythm combining with wonderful sweeping synths that recall Gary Numan’s The Pleasure Principle-era, the simplistic minimal mid-paced to up-tempo edge on Strange, which builds well to its chorus, while also featuring something of a New Order feel to it, the mid-paced We Don’t Have Normal Lives, which again builds well to a more up-tempo chorus,to the wonderfully stark, simplistic and haunting overtone of the ballad House Of Mirrors, this in itself also provides the prefect finish to the album as its final-track. Beyond this, and also of note, there is the strong solid up-tempo pace and buzzing synths of Special Effects, the mid-paced to up-tempo Lose That Boy with its sharp sweeping synths, and the bright bubbly mid-paced Imaginary Friend, building well to its chorus. Further tracks include the solid mid-pace of Natural Causes, the minimal simplistic mid-paced feel of Hot Air Balloons which moves along nicely, likewise with the solid mid-pace of Lady Spider on an album that is a consistently strong, solid and impressive thought-out. © DK