After they returned from musical exile in the late 2010s, the sister duo of
Aly & AJ made a string of excellent synth pop singles and EPs that reintroduced them as deeply dramatic electro queens. As the last of those singles were being released in 2020, the pair had already switched gears and adopted a sound that owed far more to the laid-back '70s sound of California than the icy textures of London circa 1985. Working with producer
Yves Rothman, they concoct a sound on
A Touch of the Beat Gets You Up on Your Feet Gets You Out and Then into the Sun that's warm and inviting modern pop with the occasional disco beat and soft rock mellowness happily sneaking into the mix. The sisters always wrote their own songs, even back in their Disney days, and they outdo themselves on this album. It's not easy to whip up songs that have sticky hooks, real emotional impact, and a sound that's both modern and retro at once.
Beginning with the moody "Pretty Places," which has a lovely driving-through-L.A.-at-dusk feel, then weaving through bouncy tunes that feel like a relaxed
Le Tigre ("Break Yourself"), heartbreak ballads that dig deep into feelings without wallowing there ("Symptom of Your Touch"), insistent rockers with huge choruses ("Don't Need Nothing"), and tender acoustic ballads ("Hold Out"), the album has a great deal of variety. The rollicking and huge-sounding "Listen!!!" -- which features
Nancy Wilson of
Heart and a co-write from indie pop whiz kid
Jorge Elbrecht -- even takes a breathless leap into stadium indie à la
Metric and comes up a winner. Throughout the record, the sisters trade off lead vocals, sounding perfect on their own and transcendent when paired together in harmony. The light and sweet sound of their voices floats on top of the airy arrangements, and when paired with breezy keyboards, the occasional sax, and a small band sound, it makes for an easy listen that has the feel of a warm and carefree day. The melancholy vibes of the sadder songs and the swaying giddiness of the most excited tracks blend together into an album that balances out nicely.
Their previous post-comeback records proved that
Aly & AJ can make excellent synth pop, and this gentler, more organic approach pays off just as much. With
A Touch of the Beat they've made a modern pop album that fills a niche for people who like the sound of
HAIM but don't like their drama, or those who like
Tegan and Sara but want something less serious. That being said,
Aly & AJ are totally in charge here and doing their own thing quite well. Not many artists make as much out of their second chance as the sisters do, and hopefully their excellent album will find the audience it deserves. ~ Tim Sendra