Following the success of their self titled EP in November 2011, Denmark’s “The Foreign Resort” have released their new album “Scattered and Buried”. Comprised of Mikkel B. Jakobsen on vocals/guitars, Morten Hansen on drums/vocals, Henrik Fischlein on guitar and Patrick Ryming on bass, “The Foreign Resort”  do not disappoint with this labyrinthine album.  Continuing with their signature guitar shoegazing infused electro riffs, this really stretches the boundaries of new wave music. With its explosive, dark multi-faceted, edgy and atmospheric songs, “Scattered and Buried” excels at intense, mutating songs, whose darkness manifests through the fuzzy riffs and weighty bass.

It’s also an album which showcases the theatrical and versatile vocals of Jakobsen and immaculate drum craftsmanship of Hansem. It’s also without doubt an album which alters the senses through the mesmerising riffs of Jakobsen, Fischlein and Ryming. Lyrically, the album is emotionally singed and secretly prolific. With remixes of “Heart Breaks Down”, “Take a Walk” and “Orange Glow”, “Scattererd and Buried” is a polarised electro-guitar infused album, which convolutes with an assault of textured riffs and elates with its euphoric synths. It’s also an album which sees “The Foreign Resort” dabble with more dancey vibes, reminiscent of early New Order-esque sonic beats and likened to the early 90s club scene.

Switched on by the sublime “Delayed”, here is a track which tunes you in with its radio-antennae riffs. It’s an impressive opener, which captivates you with its cacophony of sinking bass and wayward riffs. With his sullen vocals, Jakobsen really captures the dark melancholy of the song, which delves deep into the mesh of fuzzy and descending drones. What’s distinguished about “The Foreign Resort” is the significance of the bass throughout all their tracks. It’s not often you hear a band which makes the bass as prominent as the lead guitars. In particular in “Delayed” you hear how Ryming’s under chamber of drones, skilfully hammer and pound against the skydiving, rotating and nimble-fingered riffs.  With lyrics such as “Afraid of now, if my heart will ever mend”, you hear the torture emitted which is wrapped up and smothered by the shoegazing assault.

“Buried”, on the other hand, is an example of how the legacy of influences can be incorporated and stand the test of time.  With its Joy Division-esqe intro, “Buried” then accelerates with more post-punk, jittery riffs that consolidate with shades of early U2.  With exact precision “Buried” slides, staggers and penetrates the vocals with its wave of reverberating, shoegazing riffs. Along with its New Order-esque drum infested out-tro, “Buried” exudes an unhinged edginess, defining “The Foreign Resort” very much as a genre-bending band.

Again it’s the New-Order-esque sonic beats that kick starts “Rocky Mountains” into a chaotic clatter of shoegazing haze. With it’s telescopic vocals, “Rocky Mountains” synchronises with the eerie sonic synths that reverberate against The Jesus and Mary Chain-esque riffs.

“Lost My Way (2012)” once more illustrates how the distorted vocals integrate with the wonky, wavering bass, creating the backdrop for this oblique track. Along with its nagging, muffled riffs and elongated drones, “Lost My Way” is progressive new wave music personified. It’s a track whose ascending riffs and synths synchronise in juxtaposition against the blackened bass splodges.

“Tide” is one of the albums most sonic infused songs, whose drugged up and choppy synths resonate against the emotive vocals. Lyrically minimal “Tide” skilfully evokes emotional discord which drifts aside the Industrial and tinny riffs.

Now remixed, ”Orange Glow (Nova child remix)” re- emerges in eerie, Eno-esque tones, swirling and drifting towards euphoric heights. Along with its piano-synth  “Orange Glow” is fuelled by the springy bass and the shuffle drums. It’s a multi-textured track which is customised by the mechanical Adamski-esque synths, that rotate and spark around the wailing riffs. What’s definitive about “Orange Glow” is the subtle undertow of muffled voices and eerie morse code beeps. It’s an innovative insert which hails “The Foreign Resort” as very much a contemporary and experimental band.

“Heart Breaks Down (sway remix)” is the albums most hauntingly beautiful track, which drones and aches with its mass of shoegazing haze. Now remixed with a more dancey vibe, it’s also a track which spins and elates with its pitter-patter of synths. Delivered in languid vocals, “Heart Breaks Down” ingeniously cuts to the core and narcotizes you in an infused state of mind.

With a condensed array of influences, “Opening Act (evol temptation)” is an eclectic mix of sonic wonders, that flickers, stomps and flutters with a busybody of synths. With the shades of Depeche Mode and 90s U2, “Opening Act” is pulsated by the signature New Order-esque bass and  sonic drum beats. Despite the obvious New Order influences, “Opening Act” ‘s contemporary freshness is restored by the distinguished vocals and splatter of strobe light synths.

Again with the remix of “Take a Walk” (Runner’s mix), “The Foreign Resort” illustrate their diversity as a band, upgrading an original stomper with more textured synths and pluckier riffs. With its The Jesus and Mary Chain-esque intro, “Take a Walk” continues to prowl in darkness, adopting more menacing,  scattered, swirly synths that reverberate against the heavy sonic drums.

(Released 25th September 2012)

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