After the success of Chvrches’ 2013 debut The Bones of What You Believe, the Glaswegian trio became almost as well known for the torrent of misogynistic online abuse targeted at frontwoman Lauren Mayberry as for their stellar brand of 80s-infused electropop. This follow-up continues their bouncy, synth-heavy sound, but with some defiant retorts for the trolls. “I’ll go my own way if I’m going at all,” Mayberry sings on the opener, Never Ending Circles. This uplifting yet bittersweet undercurrent characterises the best songs, such as Clearest Blue – a Eurythmics-esque track that builds to an explosion of dancey euphoria. Next to this shimmering peak, a few songs pale in comparison.
