Implied by the cover of two nudes embracing on a ladder,
Small Black's second album showcases a stripped-down, more organic side of the chillwave group. Previous releases (2009's self-titled EP and to a lesser degree 2010's
New Chain) epitomized the gauzy aspects of chillwave, but
Limits of Desire attempts to showcase their talents as a full touring band and not just the bedroom project of one member. Featuring Josh Hayden Kolenik (keys, vocals), Ryan Heyner (guitar, keys, vocals), Juan Pieczanski (bass, guitar), and Jeff Curtin (drums, percussion), with trumpet accompaniment by
Aaron Rockers on three tracks,
Small Black have moved from cloudy cassette tape to a big, live studio room approach for their sophomore full-length. However, with the synthesized warble toned back and a higher production value added, this album grasps for a sense of style, lacks a standout single (a "Photojournalist," "Camouflage," or "Despicable Dogs"), and falls closer in line with the sterile, generic sound of deep cuts on '80s radio. Despite some nods to contemporary pop (pumping side-chained compression),
Limits of Desire's sound is based in classic soft rock and synth pop, at times resembling an indie take on
10cc or
Alphaville. Fellow artists of their genre
M83 and
Neon Indian fattened up their lo-fi haze as they became more popular, but even with the studio upgrades of
Era Extraña and
Hurry Up, We're Dreaming, these groups managed to retain the charm that drew people to their music. If
New Chain found
Small Black taking chillwave to the mainstream,
Limits of Desire sees the band fully crossing over and losing its individuality in the process. That's not to say it's all bad. Kolenik's lyrics, while ambiguous, are filled with heartbreak, and perfectly anchor themselves amidst the dream pop wash of the midtempo ballads. The textures are excellent, the songs are OK, but as a whole, it just doesn't pack the emotional punch of earlier outings. ~ Jason Lymangrover