The Return is the second album of cosmic biker gang synthwave from
Bênní (aka garage rocker Benny Divine), and it's altogether much clearer and more focused than
I & II, which collected material from previously released cassettes. The sound quality is beefed up and the melodies are sharper, plus the beats are more propulsive, and sometimes more danceable. As with
I & II, there seems to be a story line concerning alien robots on a mission to destroy Earth. The irresistible centerpiece "The Return, Pt. 2" features talkbox-heavy lyrics detailing the mission over a majestic, doom-filled electro-techno beat, serving as perfect hype music for the intergalactic battle. Elsewhere, "Ancient Plains" is an ominous space drone, and the ideal accompaniment for a scene depicting a vengeful android glaring over a desert horizon. "The Maze" is a lethal combination of
Kraftwerk and
John Carpenter, with synth melodies spiraling upwards in a simple yet ornate pattern over steadily paced kicks and snares. Of course, while the album has dark overtones, it's all in fun, and the aim is to thrill and surprise rather than scare. "Dance of the Eridani" is filled with pure joy rather than terror, as a carnivalesque Italo-disco melody skips over a Kompakt-like schaffel beat. Following two more feverish dream scenes, "End of Light" brings back the cyborg vocals, although it's not quite clear if the mission has been completed or not. This is far from a problem, of course, since it only promises more sequels to come. ~ Paul Simpson