Balthazar

Slinky. Stylish. Sexy. Balthazar’s newfound loucheness suits them well. Hot on the heels of last year’s Fever – a warm, sinuous collection of songs shot through with Southern grooviness – comes Sand, a record that heads in bold, exciting new directions, and cements the Belgian band’s status as Kings of soulful alt-pop.   Keen not to retread old ground, the band put their experience to good use, mapping out a smooth, cinematic soundscape for their songs to smoulder in. Sand marks several firsts for them, with Balthazar sounding every bit as fresh and energised as they did back in 2010, when their debut Applause wowed critics and the public alike. And for album number five, their masterful command of melody and pace is on full display – Sand is unique in the way it melds minimally arranged pop to elegant electronica and sophisticated grooves, with defiant sparks of frisson sprinkled liberally throughout.