THE CONCRETES

WYWH

[Friendly Fire]

The Concretes used to be a band Camera Obscura fans could listen to when they tired of Scottish indie-pop and wanted to sample the Swedish equivalent. But that was before singer Victoria Bergsman went solo, leaving drummer Lisa Milberg to make that long walk from behind the kit to center stage. The new lineup makes its American debut with WYWH—a collection billed as their disco departure, although it turns out Milberg hasn’t quite led the octet into clubland. Beat-driven cuts “All Day,” “Good Evening” and “What We’ve Become” are too drowsy for the dance floor, and Milberg’s come-ons involve staying in bed all day and leaving parties early to drink whiskey and spin Paul Simon records. The Concretes inch even closer to their roots in the disc’s second half, replacing lethargic dance grooves with tissue-y pop tunes. This is a band still struggling to find its way, but it’s worth joining them as they wander. –Kenneth Partridge

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