Viscount: 10 Past 10 cassette

Description

Experimental/electronic pop byLucy Anstey.

Our take: 10 Past 10 is the debut 8-song cassette from this solo project helmed by Lucy Anstey. I am a big fan of Lucys band Primetime (maybe you are too?), so when I saw this solo release hyped in Neon Tastes newsletter, I had to check it out. Primetime always had great pop melodies, and that carries over to Viscount, though the instrumentation is quite different. Theres probably a better comparison out there, but many of the tracks on 10 Past 10 remind me of New Orders electronic pop: drum machines, synthesizers, dance rhythms and big pop instrumental and vocal hooks. Thats the core of the sound, but there are also two more abstract instrumentals (Dungeon and Third Floor Corridor) that break up 10 Past 10 nicely, as well as a cover song at the end of each side. I like the cover of Rose Garden, but Viscounts cover of When Youre Happy You Wont Understand by the Bartlebees really blew me away. Im not familiar with the BartlebeesDiscogs tells me theyre a 90s German garage/indie bandbut in Viscounts hands, When Youre Happy is a beautiful slice of wistful 80s-style indie-pop with a minimal synth backbone and an absolutely classic chorus. I have a feeling Ill be putting this song on mix tapes for many years to come. All of 10 Past 10 is great though maybe its title shoulda been 10 out of 10?