Black & White Photo Enterprise

Radio Vago does an impressive job of invoking the post-punk and new wave sounds of the early '80s without sounding too much like a copycat retro band. With their mesmerizing keyboards and distinctive guitar noise, the band's dark, arty brand of synth pop suggests a range of possible influences including Joy Division and Bauhaus. Vocalist Andrienne Pearson finds the right balance between Gothic diffidence and theatrical shrillness, while the somewhat abstract lyrics tend toward moody phrases such as "scratching noises in the wall and underground" and "feel your body burn in fire." Black and White Photo Emporium is a relatively short EP, barely lasting over 14 minutes, but it's a fine effort that shows a lot of promise for the band.