Dark tones match title

The electropop on “Black City” is so strong it could get up and walk away.

Strength lies in density with Matthew Dear’s new album, with throbbing pulses and glitch pieces that intertwine seamlessly at most points, like leadoff track “Gem” and “Monkey.”
The album is dark, true to its title, and never gets any brighter.

His vocals are eerily similar to those of Tunde Adebimpe from TV On The Radio, and both are masters at matching vocal vibes to the sound of the song.

This is another remarkable part of “City”: each song is sprawling and elaborate enough on its own to stand as a project, but consistent overtones remain intact.

Dear is always making left turns on every front of his career, and his versatility exemplifies itself here.