Album Review: Empire of the Sun-'Ice on the Dune'

RATING: 4/5

Many of us can probably conjure to mind either their 2008 ear worm "Walking on a Dream", or their lavish attire and album artwork that define so much of their personae, upon being asked about Australian new wave pop duo Empire of the Sun. While Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore embrace an ambitious delivery with everything they do, their debut album Walking on a Dream (2008) only managed to propel them into the middle of the indie music atmosphere. Ice on the Dune once again aims for the stars, but with greater coherence through airy, blooming layers of sound, it might just prove to be their grand fanfare.
There is a bold appeal in these tracks, something that seemed to lack in their last album, with the heart and soul lingering among a grab-bag of spacy effects laid throughout multiple sub-genres  Not to say it didn't have its moments, but Ice on the Dune revamps popular standouts like "Half Mast" and "Walking on a Dream", and sets them among a catalogue of refreshing energy and allure. It's a grand collection of those one-of-a-kind moments; each track is powerful enough to be put on its own pedestal. The album opens its doors with a string of potential radio gems that radiate sparkling danceability, including the hands-up single "Alive", which is just as invigorating as the title suggests, and "Concert Pitch" with its warm and inviting synth leads. Right from the get go, you'll be immersed in vivacious musical textures that lift each song to heavenly heights. It's an undoubtedly fun ride that's easy to get lost in, pure and straighforward indie pop with no ambient distractions. While Ice on the Dune exhibits greater production efforts than Walking on a Dream, it keeps from being over-the-top and doesn't bite the EDM fish hook, creating its own originality that draws from the 70s and 80s; Steele and Littlemore tap into disco grooves á-la Daft Punk on tracks like "Old Flavours" and "Celebrate", and re-create part of a John Hughes film soundtrack on "I'll be Around." And upon listening to the closing portion of "Keep a Watch", I felt an undeniable connection to the instrumental extravaganza lead by Clare Torry's red-hot vocals in Pink Floyd's "The Great Gig in the Sky."
There's really no reason not to enjoy Ice on the Dune for what it's worth. Empire of the Sun create a clear panorama that is magically upbeat, with Luke Steele's passionately congested vocals gilding every track. With their sophomore strike, the duo has definitely found a signature sound that is sure to please a wide variety of fans.