If THE BLUE NILE captured the image of cold rainy pavements and blurred headlights passing by, then CAUSEWAY are “In a reality where the sun is neon and the streets are lit with lasers…”

Following their well-received debut album ‘We Were Never Lost’ released on Italians Do It Better in 2022, American noir synth duo CAUSEWAY are back although there have been a few changes. The new album ‘Anywhere’ is issued on Sprechen Music, a British label based in Manchester while they have been exploring some different sonic territory.

Having evolved as a collaborative team, vocalist Allison Rae and synthesist Marshall Watson have streamlined their writing process and kept it remote, allowing a more vulnerable creative mindset with space to reflect, for a work that is authentic and deeply personal.

Maintaining their cinematic dreamwave sound, although the classic slow mo CAUSEWAY is prevalent on ‘Anywhere’, the title track is a key statement that goes all Motorik and minimal with the guitar of Dale Hiscock from ENDLESS ATLAS contributing the West Coast meets Düsseldorf flavour; eschewing the density of most of the tracks on the album, “To me it feels very ‘out of the box’ for CAUSEWAY but it fits in our universe” said Marshall Watson in an interview with ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK

Photo by Khoa Nguyen

Opener ‘Love Me Like Your Last Time’ punches through with a determined power not previously heard on of their debut album ‘We Were Never Lost’ although elements such as the string machine textures and ominous basslines, along with Allison Rae’s resigned vocals remain. Elsewhere, ‘Human’ sees Hannah Lew of COLD BEAT guesting on vocals and its feisty rhythmic propulsion shapes some dark disco as the question is asked “what does it feel to be human?”

But not rocking the boat and not veering too much away from the CAUSEWAY template, the single ‘Dancing With Shadows’ reflects the shady mystery fitting of its title, throbbing and biting in a wonderful hook laden slice of popwave.

Not a cover of THE CURE, ‘It’s Never Enough’ is moodier but shuffles along percussively with various offbeats and obscure timing points which puts it in an intriguing sonic capsule with recollections of Moby. Meanwhile ‘Criminal’ takes on a more funereal pace and almost shoegaze in its wall of harsher frequencies.

Photo by Khoa Nguyen

Adopting a hypnotic triple bass drive and sparkling crystalline figures, the superb ‘Lightyears’ offers Allison Rae’s alluring feminine melancholy as someone “doesn’t want to change”… yes “maybe we’ll be alright in another life” but why carry on? But as she said to ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK: “Having to leave someone that I loved was the hardest thing I have ever done.”

‘Put Up A Fight’ recalls the sound of ‘We Were Never Lost’ in its floaty melodramatic aura although the gothic resonances of THE CURE appear in its guitar interventions which reinforce the paranoia that “they’re coming for me…”

Although the droning gloom is offset by shinier pulses, ‘Ruin Me’ soundtracks an impending submission for better or worse that fittingly acts as what appears to be the closing number. However, the final act comes with a cover of ‘Nobody’s Diary’ that will polarise… the YAZOO classic beloved of many and written by Alison Moyet at the age of 18 will be seen as sacred to some but to their credit, CAUSEWAY go for a different percussive synth rock arrangement with everything thrown in.

Although CAUSEWAY had been originally intending to make a “Mean dirty break up album”, while ‘Anywhere’ is anguished and melancholic, it is also hopeful with a message of love. “It captures the complexity of moving through pain toward something brighter” said Allison Rae; certainly it’s an enjoyable reverb-laden one at that and a more than worthy follow-up to ‘We Were Never Lost’.

‘Anywhere’ is released by Sprechen Music, available in vinyl LP and digital formats from https://sprechen.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/wearecauseway

https://www.instagram.com/weare_causeway/

https://wearecauseway.bandcamp.com/

Text by Chi Ming Lai
14 February 2025