The new record from DC Gore (Little Cub) is an odd bird. A mix of New Wave and arch pop, All These Things, out on Domino now, succeeds for the most part. Whether shining a light on Englishness in 2022, or simply riding a synth hook into the sun, Gore manages here to blend surface pleasures and smarter ones throughout the course of this long-player.
"Millenium People" is the state of things atop throwback keys, a lush yet smart skewering of contemporary Britain. As is, it's one of the highlights here, though there are a few. Elsewhere, "Nietzsche On The Beach" marries a gorgeous melody with clever lyrics, such that while it feels like the end of the world, there may be time to dance. "Set You Free" is rather straightforward, and a bit bitter, with Gore singing like Japan-era Sylvian, while "Bodies" reveal a vulnerability that's affecting. That one, and the closing title track are beautiful, but that final track, with its swells and aching, intimate vocals really seemed special to me.
If single "I Like You" is bright and festive, the best parts of All These Things are those where DC Gore straddles a line between arch observation and genuine empathy for his subjects. There's a detachment here, furthered by the synths perhaps, that gives this the vibe of a very good Pet Shop Boys album, but DC Gore is earnest in a way that doesn't suggest the sometimes droll wit of those guys. Gore favors that juxtaposition of heart and mind, anchored in beds of keyboards and washes of electronia that places this as a sort of distant cousin to stuff like John Foxx and Frank Tovey, though Gore, to his credit keeps things this side of accessible, even as the lyrics aim for something smart.
All These Things is out now via Domino.
[Photo: Holly Whitaker]