The Tempted are back with a new album that will have them dancing through the night till a documentary of their life made for CBC gets put to the screen, Passions & Misdemeanours, a lean 13-tracker that plays like an obsessive soundtrack to a late-night movie, cutting through the land of the alternative rock blues and fragrance of synth-pop. Combining a once hauntingly raw and immaculately polished atmosphere, the duo has reaffirmed throughout this track why they remain one of the most potent forces in modern music.
Mixed on two continents, this album is evidence of The Tempted’s devotion to perfection. The sound that Iceland’s Gunnar Smari Helgason and the U.S.-based Ross Owen Campbell have painstakingly put together hums with energy and emotion. Recorded in New York with the help of Campbell, Passions & Misdemeanours is a dynamic and immersive listen, accentuated by the destructively profound presence of Shug Brankin and their forceful basslines adding a rich depth of drive to the record.
From the hypnotic rush of “You Run” to the anthemic drive of “Run To America,” the record is a rollercoaster of sonic males and lyrical soul-searching. Every verse reveals yet another level of the twosome’s creativity, combining rough rock sounds, bluesy passages, and textures filled with the synth.
With Passions & Misdemeanours, The Tempted have created an album that feels personally unique and has universal appeal. Whether you've been around for some time or are just starting to discover the band, this record will stick with you as The Tempted carve their sound to the forefront of homegrown, dateless music.
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