Review Summary: Fear of dancing (for too long)
Over three albums and five EPs, Weval have thoroughly established their sound: analog synths, syncopated chord stabs, hard hitting drums and a slightly brooding atmosphere. It’s a very recognizable style, but after more than a decade of establishing it so thoroughly, where does the Dutch duo take it from here?
More is the answer - and to the dancefloor. On Chorophobia, Weval has crammed 66 minutes of ideas into a 33 minute album. Songs flow seamlessly from one to the other, or change-up half-way through. There is a momentum here. It grips you. It’s energizing. Despite the title ‘Chorophobia’ - fear of dancing - you can’t help but.
This is mostly true for the first half though. The flow from second track ‘Moving On’ to ‘Movement’ and ‘Just Friends’ is excellent. ‘Head First’ - reminiscent of a Jamie XX interlude track - provides a small breather until lead single ‘Dopamine’ ups the energy once more. It's an exciting run.
On the second half the energy dips. ‘Open Up That Door’ is disappointing - it sounds like it wants to go somewhere but then it never does. Instead just circling around the same unsatisfying hook. ‘Better’ and closer ‘Free’ are both excellent, but comparatively laidback. Listening to it, I can’t help but wish they kept the momentum going. It’s like a 33-minute rave designed by 30-something year olds - unstoppable for about 15 minutes, but then running out of breath and needing to slow down - a reality I’m painfully familiar with…
Still though, despite the slight dissapointment with the energy and the one weaker track, the second half is enjoyable in its own right.
Weval is well known for primarily using analog gear. The drums and synths on here - everything has an unmistakable analog fatness to it. It’s not a gimmick though, it’s at the same time a limitation that defines their sound as well as the distinguishing element that makes Weval’s records sound alive and dynamic in a way that often doesn't. The craft here is admirable.
With Chorophobia Weval tried to make a dance album, and succeeded. It’s an energizing, admirably crafted album - even if it slows down in the second half.
