A dark tribute to '80s synth pop

Cold Cave is usually referred to as a goth band, a label I reject. The lyrics are usually glum, but the music is often exciting and danceable.

The band’s new release, “Cherish the Light Years,” might fool the listener on the first track. “The Great Pan is Dead” opens with thunderous guitars that assault the listener, but Wes Eisold’s voice quickly enters and reveals a new tenderness in the song.

The rest of the album is a tribute to 1980s synth pop. It’s reminiscent of The Cure at times. Like that band, Cold Cave knows how to write some great pop songs, even if they’re dressed in dark trappings.

The album does have its failings. Sometimes Eisold’s voice is too cartoonish, like a caricature of vacuous, hollow ’80s pop music voices. Also, the dynamics have been compressed to the point that the album has two volumes: loud and ear-splitting.

Still, whatever genre this ends up being, it’s catchy as hell.