Even if Felte hadn't reissued the early EP collection Nice a few months before
Endless, the leap
Soviet Soviet make on their second album would still seem significant. On those EPs and their first full-length,
Fate, they sometimes felt a little too indebted to their post-punk roots, but during the three years between their debut and this album, they refined their music by taking it on the road.
Soviet Soviet wrote much of
Endless' songs while on tour, and that live energy makes itself felt in some of their most exciting songs yet. "Fairy Tale" announces the album's intensity, while storming tracks like "Pantomime" and "Blend" leave plenty of room for their riffs to unfold.
Endless is also
Soviet Soviet's fullest-sounding work to date, with a cavern's worth of reverb adding depth to the band's newfound muscle and electronic touches that provide extra dimension. "Star" combines drum machines and surfy guitars into a power ballad that is no less affecting because of its experiments, while electronic artist
Yppah contributes synths to "Rainbow"'s doomy romance. On the fittingly named "Endless Beauty," there's a joy to the melody that breathes new life into the band's often dour sound. Likewise, as "Remember Now" moves from jangly poignancy to darker urgency and "Going Through" ripples and roars,
Endless' best moments prove that all
Soviet Soviet needed was a little confidence and polish to let their music bloom fully. ~ Heather Phares