Just as you should never judge a book by its cover, you should never judge an album by its first track. Hearing the opening tune on Canadian singer Austra’s Future Politics, ‘We Were Alive’ – an uneasy mix of icy synths, skittering beats and bombastic vocals – I had resigned myself to being disappointed.
  How wonderful to report then that the song was in no way representative of the rest of the record, which boasts its fair share of inspired moments. Highlights include the title track’s twisting electro grooves, the Aphex Twin-like techno thumper ‘Freepower’ and the hypnotic synth pop of ‘Gaia’. Best of all is the throbbing ‘Angel In Your Eye’, the funky rhythms of which prove irresistible.
  Overall, Future Politics deserves a vote of confidence.
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