New York four-piece Shiffley make overtly commercial synth-rock with flavours of DIY and ‘80s pop fetishism. It’s a pretty unique concoction that makes for youthful, futuristic, escapist listening. In a recent review of ‘Up & Down’, Substream Magazine liked their electronics to 1982 cult classic film Tron, and in newer release ‘Drawing Skulls’, we hear more immersive, video game-esque synths (courtesy of band member Alex Jenks) that traverse up and down the scale with Alex Gane’s heartthrob vocals. The rest of the digital landscape is drawn in with a undertone bass (at the hands of Shaune Killough) and acoustic beats thanks to drummer Bryan Contreas that add a splash of real-world to ‘Drawing Skulls’. There’s definitely a throwback element here, to indie-rock bands of the mid-late ‘00s (Vampire Weekend, Noah and the Whale, Foals, The Wombats), but given an edge of neon-lit sonics. With two new singles down, it looks like the Long Island band’s much-promised return since they released Anthem City back in 2015 is very much under way. - HT