As a mission statement, you couldn't find one much clearer than "Cruel Summer," the lead-off track on the latest release by Black Marble. As if the title didn't do well enough to harken back to the early '80s, from the moment that stiff drum machine meets up with those pulsing, neon synthesizers, Black Marble has firmly planted its feet in the same camp as Joy Division, OMD, Tears for Fears and the Eurythmics. Lead singer Chris Stewart's voice has that deep, reverb-soaked quality that instantly evokes, in turn, Ian Curtis and Roland Orzabal. Needless to say, they're not the perkiest band in the world, but if you're looking for that gloomy, trench coat-wearing, severe bangs-having part of yourself touched, Black Marble sure does hit that sweet spot. 

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