Much like his self-titled debut,
Young Romance, the shimmering sophomore set from German singer/songwriter
Roosevelt, is a synth-driven exercise in retro-flavored indie dance rock. However, while its predecessor was a neon-washed, digital throbber,
Young Romance expands
Roosevelt's palette with bright, uplifting anthems similar to
Miike Snow,
Capital Cities, and
Currents-era
Tame Impala. The
John Carpenter-meets-"Thriller" opener "Take Me Back" provides a bridge between releases before opening the skies with the joyous "Under the Sun." From there,
Young Romance is equal parts dreamy and upbeat. Standouts "Illusions" and "Lucia" glimmer and shine, recalling the collaborations between Kevin Parker and
Mark Ronson on the latter's
Uptown Special. Elsewhere,
Roosevelt channels the anthemic indie rock of
Bastille with "Losing Touch" and pays appropriate homage to the disco era with the
Chic-guitars and cowbells of "Shadows" and "Forgive," which features chillwave producer
Washed Out. Although there's nothing groundbreaking on this album,
Young Romance is warm and pleasant from start to finish, ideal for sun-kissed afternoons and carefree nights. ~ Neil Z. Yeung