Over the course of two albums, Australia's
San Cisco have proven themselves to be a reliable source for candy-coated, '80s-style dance-rock. With their third full-length album, 2017's similarly appealing The Water, they do nothing to dissuade listeners from coming to the same aesthetic conclusion. Produced by the band along Steve Schramm (who also took over bass duties from
Nick Gardner, who injured his foot prior to recording) the album once again features the talents of guitarist/vocalist Jordi Davieson, drummer/vocalist Scarlett Stevens, and drummer Josh Biondillo. Together, they offer up a frothy meringue of new wave-influenced pop anthems rife with driving basslines, snappy rubber band guitars, laser-tone synths, and lyrics about falling in love, partying all night, and overcoming minor relationship hiccups. Cuts like the disco-funk lead-off "Kids Are Cool" and the
Rick Springfield-esque "The Boy" are pleasantly enjoyable, summer-ready anthems. Similarly fun is the
MGMT-esque bubblegum groover "Slo Mo." If you're a fan of
Vampire Weekend,
Phoenix, or
Grouplove, you'll have a really good sense of what to expect on The Water. ~ Matt Collar