Lucifer

Especially in America there’s a rich, if rarely-acknowledged, tradition of super-cutesy couples making perky indie pop together. We’re thinking of such under-appreciated his ‘n hers duos as I Am The World Trade Center (named before 9/11), Mates Of State, Matt & Kim etc. The latest happily marrieds to go into business , Wisconsin’s Aaron Coyes and Indra Dunis, blend ambient electro and whispy campfire folk and, if the results sometimes feel a little too hazy to create a lasting impression, they are plenty charming nonetheless. Keeping to the happy family theme, the record was inspired by, and written in the aftermath of, the birth of their son Mikko (well, he was never going to be called ‘John’ or ‘Tim’ ,was he? ). There’s certainly plenty of raw, honest emotion: ‘Live Love’ is faded Polaroid ethereal, Dunis’ swooping vocals counter-pointed by Coye’s laptop twitching; ‘Beautiful Son’ mixes proud parent sappiness with intricate glitch-hop. It adds up to a joyous paean to the quiet pleasures of domesticity.