Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream

Rating:

* * *

From their eccentric costumes and teased hair to the shrill falsetto of Luke Steele, you might expect Empire of the Sun's debut album to be a little livelier than it is - a little more disco queen.

Instead, the Aussie electro duo shun the usual doof-doof format and use synthesised strings and looped vocals to create a unique and strangely peaceful brand of dream pop. At least for the first half.

The first single,

Walking on a Dream

- already a radio hit, is probably the most dancefloor-friendly offering on the record, which bubbles along happily, full of odd sound effects.

But while things start well with the sweeping, summery sounds of

Standing on the Shore

and

Half Mast

, and the swirling psychedelia of

Delta Bay

, they start to fall apart as the pair approach the finish line.

Moving from the surreal -

The World

could be the soundtrack to an underwater acid trip - the record ventures into the ridiculous with

Swordfish Hotkiss Night

, which sounds like Michael Jackson-meets-Outkast. And

Tiger By My Side

is irritating, with its deep chanting chorus that drones on for five minutes-plus.

Finally, things end on a new low with a horrible 80s ballad

Without You

, reminiscent of a scene from

The Wedding Singer

. The boys are obviously a fan of pageantry and parody - but would do well to rein it in a bit if they want to keep churning out chart-toppers.

Joanna Hunkin