Let’s get one thing out of the way: The New Division is not related to or reminiscent of either New Order or Joy Division. (I am sure the band is already tired of that statement). What they are is an electro-pop band with a new EP entitled “The Rookie,” an aptly titled release for an up-and-coming band. Their sound is perfectly suited for their home town of Riverside, California, a suburb of L.A. – it aspires to the bright lights yet feels somewhat distant.
“Starfield,” the first single from “The Rookie,” is a catchy slice of pop built around an ascending synth riff that never wears thin, despite its repetition. It is the crisp guitar line that snakes between the airy vocals that really sells this track, though. As the synths rise, the guitar cuts in as an effective change of pace that nonetheless fits “Starfield’s” aesthetic, and when the song reaches its zenith, the vocals, the synths, and the guitars mesh perfectly for a subdued, yet sublime, finish. For a rookie band, these kids definitely showcase some veteran moves.
Now about that band name…
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The New Division – “Starfield”
