Leave No Trace

iTunes Review

Between the release of their 2009 debut and Leave No Trace Fool’s Gold trimmed down from about a dozen members to five and the results will likely still please those impressed by their first album. The spidery, Afro-pop guitar lines of Lewis Pesacov (also a member of Foreign Born) are most responsible for giving Leave No Trace its world-pop feel, but the global vibe of the debut has been replaced by a distinct ‘80s new wave dimension here. Underpinned by synths and electronic tweaks, “Wild Window,” “Street Clothes,” and “Balmy” sound positively retro, and it’s a style that suits Luke Top’s rich romantic croon. It’s also telling that he sings almost exclusively in English on this release, with the exception of “Tel Aviv,” which features some Hebrew. Saxophone, melodic bass lines, nimble drumming, and various kinds of percussion are still in abundance yet structured in a way more akin to traditional Western pop. They still groove though. “The Dive” is hooky and infectious and the bouncy beats of “Mammal” and “Bark and Bite” encourage spontaneous dancing.