by Russ Marshalek

Under his Superpitcher moniker, Aksel Schaufler has long been Kompakt's golden boy when it comes to releasing deep, chuggy, progressively dark and sexily goth tech-house, and his first full-length LP, Here Comes Love, is more gorgeous kick-drum foreplay for dark rooms and comedown nights/mornings. With the voice of a lounge singer who has discovered the beauty of "Faith"-era Cure albums and an attention to detail that would no doubt make Eno or Flood proud, the nine tracks on Here Comes Love plod along at a pace that fits Schaufler's tales of androgynous love and emotion, showing both a restraint and passion. "Sad Boys" slowly builds and builds and builds to... the same verse, over and over, but the synth tones circling 'round in the depths of Superpitcher's heartbroken and shoe-gazing world make this a headphones album for certain. The only stumbling block with Here Comes Love comes in the form of a cover of "Fever" so gussied-up and drag show ready it may as well come complete with wig and matching heels. There's no way to be too harsh on our little emo friend, especially when he ends the album with the almost too-gorgeous cuddletech anthem "Even Angels", on which Schaufler nearly whispers "even angels make the same mistakes" over washes upon washes of soft tones.

Turn out the lights. Put on some Superpitcher. Here Comes love.

Here Comes Love
by Superpitcher
Track Listing:

1. People
2. Long Way
3. Sad Boys
4. Tr'a'ume
5. Love Me Forever
6. Fever
7. Lovers Rock
8. Happiness
9. Even Angels