Sex, Sadness and Synth-pop, New music from Melbourne’s ‘Retro Culture’
Retro Culture (from left to right) Matthew Hives (drums), Matt Connelly (vocals/keys), Matt Phillips (guitar), Daniel Boca-Vista (bass/keys)
Guys and gals, layout your finest sequined outfits and lay that eyeliner on thick. It’s time for a night of strobe-lit, heart-rumbling synth pop catharsis in the shape of Retro Culture’s latest single, ‘Heart Attack’.
The quintets leading man, Matt Connelly, exemplifies the darlingness of Culture Club’s Boy George through his ‘heart-on-sleeve’ vocal delivery, which croons and strains in the shadows of a relationship broken apart on the rocks of impulse and infidelity.
The track begins with some deep and rollicking synths, which then pair-up with a foot-shuffling electro beat that almost makes being on the d-floor with a tear in your eye a bittersweet happening.
Retro Culture is equal parts Tears for Fears, HAIM, and Culture Club, demonstrated through the groups meticulous yet immediate, explorative yet familiar song-writing and production. If the group can keep to form (or exceed it) on their eponymous self-produced full-length then all of Melbourne’s broken hearts might just have the ideal companion.
Listen to the track in full below:
