Pink Lemonade
Pink Lemonade takes Closure in Moscow into a colourful mixture of progressive rock, funk and psychedelic pop. The guitars still move quickly, but the rhythm section gives much of the music a stronger dance feel. Christopher de Cinque's singing fits the change well, moving between melodic warmth and theatrical force. It is a bold record that finds excitement in changing direction.
Neoprene Byzantine and Dinosaur Boss Battle show how naturally the band can make that approach work. The guitar sounds have a loose, colourful edge, while the vocal interplay brings personality to the busy arrangements. These songs have plenty of instrumental detail, but their appeal also comes from the way the musicians move together.
Seeds of Gold gives the album a clearer pop centre. The bass and drums help make its melodic writing feel lively and inviting. It is a useful example of the record's strengths: an unusual musical setting can still have a straightforward physical energy, without every idea needing to become a difficult puzzle.
The quieter material changes the mood. Mauerbauertraurigkeit uses spacious guitar and piano to reduce the intensity, bringing a more patient melodic character into focus. Beckon Fire moves towards a slower, beat-led atmosphere with a trip-hop influence. Those contrasts expand the record beyond its brighter guitar-driven passages.
The variety also creates problems. Vocal effects, samples and sudden shifts can distract from the playing rather than add to it. Some ideas feel less fully developed than the surrounding ambition suggests. The closing Japanese pop piece is especially difficult to fit into the sequence. Its light electronic character can be amusing, but it offers a less satisfying ending than the stronger material deserves.
That unevenness makes Pink Lemonade easier to admire in parts than to embrace without reservation. The best songs have strong grooves, confident singing and a sense of adventure that gives the band a distinct identity. When the arrangements become crowded, the same freedom works against them. It remains a rewarding, lively album, though a firmer choice of which ideas to keep would make its personality more effective.
