Predating the indie electronic explosion of
Postal Service by a good year, the Dublin pair of Alan O'Boyle and Dennis McNulty crossed over from their techno foundation to the art of songcraft on their second album as
Decal. Released by the consistently ahead Planet Mu, one might expect the hyper-fractured electronics of label owner
Michael Paradinas or fellow labelmates
Venetian Snares. Instead,
Decal offer a floating ambient work that is equal parts
Pete Namlook and
the Orb, only grounded with a lilting song sensibility. This is most clearly noted on "Waiting (All Along)," which features soaring vocal harmonies and accompanying '70s synth grandeur worthy of comparisons to
Electric Light Orchestra were it not for the soft 303 acid bit in the background. "Plan A" is based around the looping pluck of guitar strings, reminiscent of post-rock maestros
Jim O'Rouke and
David Grubbs, but again, with a heavily fuzzed synth backing that keeps things firmly placed in the electronica realm. Marking a unique point between traditional machine music and the melding of rock and electronics so favored circa 2004,
Decal never set out to be trendsetters. It just turns out they were on the forefront of something much bigger. ~ Joshua Glazer