Synth wizard Thomas Dolby is probably still best known for his memorable 1982 hit ‘She Blinded Me With Science’, although his boffin status has ensured he remains in demand as a producer, collaborator (most notably with David Bowie and David Byrne) and studio guru. A Map Of The Floating City, his first album of new material in nearly two decades, is unlikely to bring him to the attention of a mass audience, but should find considerable favour amongst those who enjoy intelligent pop in the vein of Prefab Sprout (a band Dolby has previously produced).
A Map Of The Floating City is certainly an impressively eclectic album, with Dolby exploring not just familiar synth-pop territory, but also venturing into delicate balladry, bossa nova and – wait for it – bluegrass. The shock of hearing him tackle this latter genre is considerable, and one wonders if it will be the cue for the likes of Erasure and the Pet Shop Boys to trade their electronic gear for banjos! In fairness, Dolby handles the country-tinged rhythms of ’The Toad Lickers’ and ’17 Hills’ with panache and the Boxcar Willie contingent should have precious little to complain about.
Dolby is very much at home with the album’s electro-pop material, and tracks such as ‘Nothing New Under The Sun’ and ‘Spice Train’ boast the kind of infectious grooves and witty lyrics that are his trademark. Best of all though, are the Bacharach-esque lounge-pop numbers, like ‘A Jealous Thing Called Love’ and ‘Simone’, which combine vivid lyrical imagery and lush arrangements to irresistible effect.
There may not be a track on A Map Of The Floating City to compare with ‘She Blinded Me With Science’ or the magnificent ‘Screen Kiss’, but there’s still much to enjoy in Dolby’s new adventures in Hi Fi.