A general observation of the last five or so years of indie music would have one drawing the conclusion that there has been a considerable batch of artists and bands taking old-found interests in The Cure, The Smiths, and other emo-inspiring 80’s acts, and infusing them into their sound; and this is just in the Americas. England’s Latitude Blue should be in good company.

Searching For Perfect sounds like its purported purpose. By mostly taking the environmentally moody aspect of the Cure but incorporating much more upbeat feels later on, LB is reaping the benefits of the revered acts of the decade. The guitars are soft and light in texture, yet dark and haunting in feel. Lead vocalist Gareth Nutter sounds like he sings with his head constantly lowered, and while he doesn’t quite sound like he’s got razorblades in hand and ready to go, the depression in his voice is rather clear. After all, when “1961” first slides through your speakers, the tempo temporarily subdues as he sings “For a while I felt like a king / But happiness was never a given thing / It shone bright and then it faded.” On top of this all is the obvious British accent, putting an interesting twist on the melancholy, especially when he attests in “I’ll Be Fine” “I can hold my breath for a good long time / So if you hold me under, I’ll be fine.”

However, as the EP progresses, this mood fades – aurally, anyway. If “In the Morning” is the first step to recovery, the next and final track, “I Wasn’t Born Just to Exist,” should be the clincher for ward release forms. It almost sounds like the sun broke through clouds, or the band finally got through that damn childproofing on the top of the medicine bottle.

Latitude Blue’s influences are widespread as it is, but their spin on it is worth a listen. STREAM / DOWNLOAD WMA CLIPS
1961 stream download
I’ll Be Fine stream download
I Wasn’t Born Just to Exist stream download