A quick listen to Work Drugs’ official debut label full-length Aurora Lies (Bobby Cahn Records) yields sweet, sedate pop music great for, as the band would say, “dancing, boating, yachting, sexting and living.” However, a closer listen reveals a wandering, albeit smoothly executed take on the uncertainty and disconnection that must accompany being briefly marooned at sea – which as the folklore goes is when Thomas Crystal and Benjamin Louisiana had written all of the songs for Aurora Lies. The duo, who have known each other since kindergarten and began making music together in sailing school (more tales from the fanciful crew that are not yet truly verified), seem versed in the art of poring over the sketchy intermingling of open horizons, longing and melancholia without dwelling too much or too heavily. On “Catalina Wine Mixer,” much like other tracks on the album, Tears For Fears-era vocals and MGMT-esque production are blended together and soft-lit, highlighting Work Drugs’ tendency to keep it simple while avoiding saccharine. Peppy synths and drum machinations accompany the lighthearted lyrics on tracks such as “Daddy Bear,” and with lines like “Can’t keep my paws off you/These hives all look the same,” it is evident that the group are not prepared to take themselves too seriously, which is a good thing when it comes to such seductively sexified tunes. The LP’s title track, “Aurora Lies,” slows it down and offers up a somber dose of introspection that seems characteristic of the album on a whole. “Tell me what you want from me/Show me that the best of days/Won’t end up behind me,” and then added to clear up any question of the band’s carefree intent, “Hold on (we were just having fun).”
Work Drugs manages to veil end-of-summer melancholia under a much-needed dose of high-quality dream pop. Their timing could not be more impeccable. While boating and yachting are probably out of season in this neck of the woods, Aurora Lies may prove to be the best soundtrack for winter’s best leisure activities – namely dancing, sexting and living. You can purchase the album HERE. – Leslie Burnette