Idle Labor

iTunes Review

This full-length debut by the relocated Justin Paul Vallesteros and his band oozes an inarguably ‘80s-tinted warmth and sweetness and at moments feels like a hug in earbuds. Vallesteros knows how to craft a strong melody, and the ringing guitars entwined with the artist’s yearning vocals are a formidable pair. Idle Labor offers moments that evoke everyone from The Smiths (“The Fog Rose High”) to Orange Juice (“Your Tomb”) and even early New Order (“You Should Close the Door”). An early single, “Party Talk,” is a glistening gem, with a crisp dance beat set to joyous, underplayed guitar licks, ghostly vocals, and touches like a vaporous theremin and a shimmering triangle lending the song a delicate, ephemeral feel. A later single, “After the Moment,” has a more robust ‘80s synth-pop feel, with the dance floor clearly its primary destination. Craft Spells have done their homework well, and Idle Labor as thesis merits an “A” for historical comprehension, with lavish bonus points for originality and contemporary interpretation.