Empire of the Sun Looks Back on ’80s Electronica to Excellent Effect With ‘Two Vines’

Brett Callwood

When The Sleepy Jackson’s Luke Steele and Pnau’s Nick Littlemore were introduced by an A&R exec in a Sydney bar 16 years ago, few could have envisioned that what was in fact happening over beer and schmoozing was the meeting of two perfectly felicitous minds. In musical terms, that industry insider might as well have made little legs for a fish emerging from a swamp.

It was a full eight years before the fruit of that initial meeting became ripe with the release of Empire of the Sun‘s debut album, “Walking on a Dream.” Steele and Littlemore’s new album, “Two Vines,” is their third full-length release and there’s much to love and admire.

The Australian electronic duo has produced a body of music that sounds contemporary and nostalgic at the same time. The references to 1980s pop are warmly embraced from the opening of first track “Before,” with electro-pop bands such as Erasure, New Order and the Pet Shop Boys all given sonic nods. The lush, enveloping synth-and-sample work is complemented by Steele’s almost-deadpan delivery and the song does a great job of gently easing the listeners into the record, rather than exploding into their ears with a manic dance-friendly.

The low-key vibe continues with “Digital Life,” an atmospheric piece that seems as inspired by proto-rave and 1980s/90s film scores as anything else. For the listener, the song is the musical equivalent of the rhythms of the ocean, hypnotic and enticing, pulling you in.

“First Crush” could easily be a Phil Collins song. The tune itself is simple and soulful, yet the overall song structure is intelligent. Soon afterwards, “High and Low” is an album highlight. It’s certainly the catchiest song, and most likely to send a nightclub dance-floor into a frenzy, building and building until finally climaxing with a bass-heavy chorus.

The album does have its faults; Empire claims that the themes include “the wisdom that plants can give us about living harmoniously on this beautiful planet,” but there is limited depth to the lyrics. There are no great lessons, other how to forge eras into gloriously accessible pop songs. But to be fair, that’s enough.

“Two Vines” is available on Apple Music Oct. 28.