The Diver

On The Diver, Led Er Est immerses itself in the brooding synthesizer textures of late-‘70s techno-pop pioneered by the likes of Ultravox and Cabaret Voltaire. The New York trio pulls back from its debut album's expansive compositions in favor of a more focused approach, fusing lean grooves and atmospheric effects. Members Shawn NoEQ, Samuel Kklovenhoof, and Owen Stokes display a fondness of crisp cyborg beats and eddying backdrops that frame enigmatic, angsty vocals. Within these perimeters, Led Er Est veers from the propulsive, reverb-drenched alienation of “Animal Smear” to the slowly uncoiling menace of “Kaiyo Moru” and the romantic musing of “Divided Parallel” with an efficiency that doesn’t mask the volatile emotions under the tracks’ icy surfaces. Kklovenhoof’s hectoring rasp on “La Lluvia y Memoria” and ominous intonations on the title tune speak volumes beyond words. Led Er Est shares obvious affinities with the gothic synth auteurs of a generation ago, as well as with today’s chillwave artists.