Fans of the California-based electronica duo Blaqk Audio have waited over three years for a new album, but the frustration and impatience finally broke on April 15 when the band released Material, its third studio album.
Although not heavily advertised, fans who kept a close eye on the band online learned that was streaming on Pandora in its entirety a whole week before it was available for purchase, which was very good news for those who have played Blaqk Audio’s last two albums to death.
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BA members Davey Havok and Jade Puget are no strangers to the music world. The singer and guitarist have been band members since 1998 performing as AFI, a punk/alt-rock band with bassist Hunter Burgan and drummer Adam Carson. Although the two first began writing music as Blaqk Audio in 2001, their busy scheduling and commitments to AFI forced them to put their new material on ice for seven years before finally releasing Blaqk Audio’s debut album CexCells in 2007.
While Material shares the same overall foundation and obvious influence by 80s synth bands as CexCells and their previous album Bright Black Heaven, the band’s most recent efforts have seemed to lighten up a bit, sounding more like contemporary dance music than The Pet Shop Boys. But what Material lacks most is Havok’s usual mysterious and poetic lyricism, leaving most of the album with trite and superficial words and subject matter.
The strongest tracks on the album include the album’s opener, “Waiting to Be Told,” the catchy “First to Love,” the introspective title track, “Material,” and the album’s single, “Anointed”. Although Material is an overall solid release, a darker set of lyrics and a more subdued use of electronics à la Depeche Mode’s haunting “Dangerous” would have elevated the album immeasurably. Still, Material delivers despite these minor setbacks.
As part of their Material Tour, BA will stop at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom on May 22.
Watch the bizarre 80s-inspired music video for the album’s single, “Anointed”: