In the nearly five years since
Ashby
's auspicious debut,
Power Ballads
, the duo of
Eveyln Pope
and
William Cowie
didn't change much, which is a good thing for anyone who fell under the spell of their beguiling
indie pop
sound. On
Looks Like You've Already Won
, their feather-light blend of gentle melodies, rich arrangements, and electronic underpinnings remains intact, only this time out there is less in the way of electronics and more horns, flutes, and general
Bacharach-ness
. More importantly, the songs are just as good and
Pope
's vocals sound more assured and slinky as she croons her way through the
ballads
like a '60s icon who can actually carry a tune. What really makes the album an improvement over the debut are the subtle surprises like the welcome hints of
bossa nova
throughout, the horns and woodwinds that create an exciting counterpoint to
's languid voice, the gentle
disco
beat that percolates through
"He Likes the Sound,"
and the '70s
glitter
soul
meets
soft rock
sound of
"Already Won."
The duo and its arrangers work very hard to keep things interesting and they succeed.
is a lush and lovely album whose breezily romantic feel makes it a perfect choice for warm summer nights and cozy winter evenings. ~ Tim Sendra