The all-bass/no guitars shtick utilized to good effect by the Cure in their early days is put to good use here as well. When things work, the dark-tinged tunes recall some of the best of early Dead Can Dance and others in post-punk’s first wave that figured prominently in the development of what became known as goth. Problem is too often the songs are more style than potent substance, showing up with little to hold on to or remember once they’ve moved on—some good ideas floating around that are ultimately lost in execution. A little work on stronger hooks, though, and I’m betting these cats will hit “top” lists in short order. –Jimmy Alvarado (Decorum, decorumnyc.bandcamp.com)