Lightning Dust – Fantasy

On the go since 2007, Lightning Dust's boy-girl duo of Amber Webber and Josh Wells (of Black Mountain) – singer and producer respectively – have evolved through two previous albums, incarnations that saw them characterised as a dreamy folk duo on 2007's eponymous debut, and a more experimental pop band on 2009's Infinite Light. On Fantasy, Wells has chosen to create a suite of tracks using the MPC 2000, lending the album a common vibe to fellow Canadian synth-pop innovators Purity Ring.

Gentle synth-pads and hip-hop/R&B-influenced drums soundtrack Webber's strong, tender vibrato vocals, which pull the album's feel back towards dream-pop, occasionally echoing the likes of Beach House, or even Julee Cruise. Occasionally tending towards the saccharine, the tracks are rescued from tweeness by their sheer simplicity, elegantly constructed pads and beats keeping things focused and raw. Mirror is a standout, with melancholy lyrics and clean, glittering 80s synths. [Bram E. Gieben]