Buzzin Electronic Music

Telefon Tel Aviv – Immolate Yourself – album review

Telefon Tel Aviv is the bizarre name for US based Joshua Eustis and Charles Cooper, and Immolate Yourself is their third album following previous releases, Fahrenheit Fair Enough (2001) and Map Of Effortless (2004).

Immolate Yourself is an interesting electronic album that moves between atomspheric and electro pop.

The opening track, The Birds, is like a contemporary Beloved electro pop song whereas other tracks such as Helen Of Troy and the title track, Immolate Yourself are reminiscent of Depeche Mode in a time between their synth pop glory and darker more meaningful days.

All these references are tinted with a fresh, contemporary take rather than a simple copycat retro eighties sound.

Other tracks move further away from the standard electro pop category.  Made A Tree On The Wold and Stay Away From Being Maybe build slowly with atmospheric tension.  The latter reminding me of the intro to U2’s anthemic Where The Streets Have No Name.

Though Telefon Tel Aviv keep the lid on the lighters and the intro ends with the outro, leaving me with a deep thought-provoking mood more akin to the deepness of a Joy Division track than any shallow stadium rock.

Immolate Yourself grows on me. Telefon Tel Aviv are making some interesting dark moody electro pop in a similar vain to Depeche Mode.

Telefon Tel Aviv – Immolate Yourself is due for release on 23rd January 2009 on the BPitch Control label.