U-BAHN

U-bahn MELODIC

7/10

Fine introduction to oddball Melbourne quintet

They may hail from southern Australia, but U-bahn’s spiritual locale is the American suburbs of the late ’70s and early ’80s. Devo are a clear touchstone on this frisky art-pop debut, particularly on the jittery new wave pulses of “Turbulent Love” and “Beta Boyz”, a robo-punk commentary on noxious machismo that also nods to Kraftwerk. There are strong traces, too, of early Talking Heads and ESG, while leader Lachlan Kenny summons the pale spirit of Dare-era Phil Oakey on “The Sweetest Sound”’s synthetic swoosh. It doesn’t always hit the mark, but it’s terrific fun while it lasts.