- Phillip Lauer's peppy, '80s-inspired sound shines brighter than ever.
- Phillip Lauer is a man of many monikers. Collaborative projects like Tuff City Kids, Black Spuma and T&P showcase his versatility, though his sound of choice on his solo records leans towards what James Murphy once dubbed "borrowed nostalgia for the unremembered '80s." 2015's Borndom saw him fully indulging his love of '80s hits, and 2018's Power was, well, more of the same. It's not a bad thing—Lauer takes the dreamy glitz of the '80s and explores nooks and crannies of the sound that few other people have. He seems to understand that carefully refining his craft, truly knowing his sound, is more fruitful than any reinvention of the wheel could be. Answers 2 Trouble, his fourth album and second for Permanent Vacation, sees him voyage even further into the '80s synth sound with nine glo-fi gems, keeping his foot on the accelerator the whole time.
Even when Lauer is shooting for simplicity, you can hear the obsessive levels of tinkering in each and every sound. He has a knack for dense arrangements and the full-throttle approach brings a modern touch to his arsenal of vintage synth sounds (he also has a brand new, purpose-built studio at his disposal on Answers 2 Trouble). Pacing-wise, the LP is impressive: the breakdowns never disrupt the grooves, while the songs progress in a linear fashion without being predictable, all while rapid arpeggiation brings a boundless energy. Tracks like "Atelananti" and "No More Push-Backs" made much more sense to me while I was flying down the motorway. Lauer swerves in and out of techno, Italo disco and acid, steering clear of any bumps in the road.
The guest appearances only sweeten the deal. On "Ghost," frequent collaborator Jasnau steals the show, with a head-turning mic presence (think Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan) over a gurgling bassline and some wonderfully retro snare hits. It all sounds more '80s than a lot of songs that were actually made in the '80s. Lauer's work feels poppier this time around, but a song like "Make It Stay" is poppy in a way that's far too vibrant and euphoric to turn your nose up at. Vocalist Dana casts rays of sunshine with an earworm hook, while Lauer's summery chords bring a to mind a sepia-tinted beach montage.
The flagrant, feel-good energy of Answers 2 Trouble is well-timed, almost nourishing. "Valentino III" sounds made for an intimate, late-night garden party, while more cinematic moments like "SNNO" would be just at home blaring out of your headphones in the bedroom during a close listening session. There's a heavy '80s influence in Answers 2 Trouble, of course, but the LP conjures feelings that aren't exclusive to just any one decade. There's a sun-baked nostalgia to it that applies to all good times, offering an optimism you can believe in, even in times like these.
Tracklist01. Lil Forci Jr.
02. Ghost feat. Jasnau
03. Switec
04. SNNO
05. Make It Stay feat. Dena
06. Valentino III
07. Altalenanti feat. Fabrizio Mammarella
08. No More Push-Backs
09. Fait Accompli