Ghostland Observatory

If nothing else, Ghostland Observatory proves that shtick, done well, has a certain poignancy all its own. The Texas duo’s dance-rock sound is a little cheesy and hyperbolic, with synthesizers, drums, chimes, and vocals borrowed from—or at least inspired by—the soundtracks of assorted ’80s films. Prefaced by the spoken-word desert espionage of its title track, the band’s 2010 album Codename: Rondo appeared to be veering into Spies Like Us territory, but the rest of the record is typical Ghostland—all hokey electronics and nervy sexuality intact. Aaron Behrens sounds more inclined than ever to feed his nervy vocals through caped partner Thomas Ross Turner’s assemblage of bleeps and bloops.

Updated 06/01/2012