Some people say that the best things happen accidentally. That's what probably occurred to Lina Sophie and Richey Rose when they met out of the blue at a Brooklyn bar four years ago and connected through a mutual love for 80s post-punk, goth and 90s grunge but also their genuine interest for Swedish indie, alternative music scene.
Songs for Sabotage officially formed in 2019 and are named after the New Museum 4th Triennial exhibition of the same name. A year later due to COVID spread, they moved to Lexington (KY) where their debut album was finished, and appropriately titled Night of Joy after the Brooklyn bar where their bond started.
Night of Joy kicks in smoothly but once it kicks in it becomes infectiously addictive in a haze of the most modern classic 80s Post-Punk and Goth sonic aesthetic that one can come across and it works superbly with their Swedish crush that allow to perceive the presence of Acid House Kings, The Cardigans and Radio Dept.
Night of Joy offers a pallette of masterfully crafted tunes with delightful bass lines, melodic guitar patterns that bring to mind Johnny Marr but also exploding guitar choruses bringing to mind the energy of The Joy Formidable and gorgeous, clean, pop vocals reminding Nina Persson. The outcome of SFS debut album is a handful of great songs such like Sabotage, Urgency, Metal or Drifting. The album closes with a stunning, vibrant, electrifying cover of Peter Murphy's "Cuts You Up" which highlights the idiosyncrasy of the whole album.
In the middle of the COVID pandemic Songs for Sabotage should be highly praised for releasing a great album in these difficult, weird, challenging times we're living in and which can work out as gasoline for SFS future releases.
INDIEVOTION RATING: 8/10