Bleep

Retina.it and Donato Dozzy joining forces to make minimal wave? Don’t mind if we do. Yes, the three Italian avant-club dons have combined their considerable abilities under the banner of Men With Secrets, and on Psycho Romance And Other Spooky Ballads they channel the spirit of the 80s through a baker’s dozen of tunes. The trio lean into the classic sound here, their drums pattering away and their synths keening icily while muttered, moody vocals drape themselves over the mix. Cabaret Voltaire and Richard Bone are immediate comparisons. There are also some modern quirks to tracks like ‘Cabaret Démodé’ - the keyboards that gently sway in the background sound more minimal techno than minimal wave.