Songs For Sabotage maintain a tight focus on lean, pop-forward 'Clean Trauma'
Swedish-American post-pop duo Songs For Sabotage return for their sophomore LP, Clean Trauma, a lean album with a resolute sense of purpose ideally suited for the stage.
Following up Songs For Sabotage’s moody and guitar-forward darkwave debut LP Night Of Joy, Clean Trauma maintains a relatively even keel by comparison, occasionally spiking the heady mellowness with surprising flourishes that never manage to harsh the overall vibe even when the lyrical subject matter delves into heavier subjects of isolation, depression, and modern malaise. Keys, synths, and drum machines serve as the primary propellant, enveloping Lina Sophie’s airy vocals in a swirling ether of shadowy dance-floor ready pop that often recalls Chromatics by way of Eurythmics with a nod to Phantogram’s biggest 00s singles and Sleigh Bells’ later, more ballad-driven catalog. The juxtaposition of danceable beats and emotive subject matter are hallmarks of a great pop song, and Songs For Sabotage have expertly combined the elements into a intoxicating cocktail that’s easy to swallow and yet refreshingly complex.
With reference points firmly in place Clean Trauma is a natural contender, as Songs For Sabotage lean even harder into glistening pop perfection and position their more angular, rock-oriented influences neatly in a supporting role. The result is a remarkably fluid album that would appropriately fill the walls of a discotheque or a dive bar depending on which band member was situated at the front of the mix, and also feels perfectly primed for remix treatments that would easily elevate Songs For Sabotage into the laser-laced stratosphere of festival EDM tents. It’s not all beats and bass; the opening riff of “Owen” is a prime example that almost cathartically allows the guitars to rip, laying the framework for an energetic track that quickly transitions into uptempo electro but maintains the soaring six-string pyrotechnic elements that set this track apart from the others.
At just over 23 minutes in total length, Songs For Sabotage keep Clean Trauma nice and tight, but the brevity of the album can feel a little abrupt; as if the lights were suddenly flipped on in the club before the band had a chance to finish their set. This lends Clean Trauma an ephemeral quality that fizzes brilliantly for a moment like a hand-held sparkler but misses the more dramatic impact of a full-on fireworks display. Opening up select tracks with extended mixes or incorporating one or two more tracks could have made the LP feel a little more substantial, which will undoubtedly allow Clean Trauma to shine in a live setting as a foundational element for a larger set that showcases Songs For Sabotage’s strengths and celebrates the band’s complete range.
Clean Trauma is available now via Bandcamp. Stream the album on Spotify and follow Songs For Sabotage on Instagram.