In the Grace of Your Love

Here The Rapture transitions back to a trio after the departure of longtime member Mattie Safer and makes a clean break from its inspired dance-punk revivalism. A slightly more somber tone reflects recent life-changing events in frontman Luke Jenner’s life, such as becoming a father and losing his mother to suicide. Exuding a smoother and more cerebral dance-club vibe, In the Grace of Your Love simultaneously celebrates and parts ways with his recent past, both lyrically and musically. In the Grace of Your Love is indeed a more mature record and delivers an astounding number of delightful surprises. Hints of gospel are interwoven with bouncy dance beats and balkanized accordion snippets on “Come Back to Me”; the yearning, melancholic stomper “Sail Away” morphs effortlessly into a Sun Ra melting pot; “Never Die Again” revisits 1978 Blondie, with a killer verse/bridge/chorus combo propelled by gusts of gliding horns, glittering disco guitar, and clattering percussion. Like its labelmate YACHT, The Rapture works in a rarefied arena of dance-pop that’s smart, sophisticated, and deeply pleasurable.