If You Like The Veronicas - Try Lovers Electric
Like fellow Australian contemporaries The Veronicas, Lovers Electric infuse rock, pop, electronica, a keen grasp of popular 80s music, and modern songwriting to yield results like the dark and edgy "Honey." Boucher and Turley muse mournfully, "Remind me honey, what did we just lose?", sinking in post-breakup regret. It is an uncomplicated pop song, which is accompanied by a simplistic video. It begins with cartoon versions of Boucher and Turley running across a white backdrop before changing into the real things with the break of the first guitar riff. Their movement is blocky and chopped much in the style of stop-motion animation, their bodies guided by the beats, melodies, and words of the track. "Honey" is also the debut single from Lovers Electric, not only properly showcasing the band's unique talents but also embracing the dance world with a couple of remixes. Don't short yourself by missing out on the wonderfully electric and progressive house mix produced by Australia's Sam La More.
Sounds Like Her Sister?
You may find something familiar in Eden Boucher, as her vocal stylings are very similar to that of her sister, Butterfly Boucher. What is also nice is that Eden chose a very musically distinct path for her instrument from that of her sister. The whip-like intonation of their words and the way they strain the upper registers in a very vulnerable and real way provides a welcome partner to the fast-paced and driving electronic music provided by bandmate Turley. "Could This Be," the band's second single, showcases Eden's talents marvelously through the contemplation that this may finally be "the one." "You Got It" also boasts a similar style of songwriting, with an introspective chorus about the human condition of wanting more than you need yet not needing what you've got. These two tracks, along with others like "Love Waits" and "Won't Give In" exhibit the ease with which Eden and David handle pop hooks and talented songwriting.
Whatever You Want - At Any Tempo
Any 80s "best of" compilation would not be only upbeat and happy tunes, but also include slow and powerful songs, with swelling orchestration and emotional words sung longingly and effectively. Whatever You Want is no different, masterfully pairing Boucher's vulnerable performance with precisely the right amount of sentimentality and musical fireworks from Turley, proving that pop ballads can exist without the cheese and whine that usually accompany them. Such is the case with "Is It Over?" and "Whatever You Want," whether it be with slow, pensive melodies or a more midtempo, trip-hop heart rending. "Closer" is another such track, the dynamic between Boucher and the subject of her affections being laid out in extremities, Turley's soft tenor melding with Boucher's alto in accentuating the pain wedged into every note, every beat.
Summary
Boucher and Turley eagerly and deftly handle every musical idea and nuance on their fresh and exciting debut album, making their future bright and exciting should they choose to follow Whatever You Want. Their debut is smart music, and you cannot avoid the appeal of that.
Self-released November 2008.
