The spirit of 1980s indie pop and new wave curls around “Tonight,” the latest single from Welsh synth/post-punk duo Plastic Estate’s upcoming album, Code d’Amour, like a plume of smoke in a dimly lit bar—familiar, yet intoxicatingly fresh. There’s a whiff of nostalgia here, a nod to the gilded Sophisti-pop era, but Plastic Estate is not in the business of mere revival. Instead, they weave their crystal-clear modern sensibilities into a tapestry of soft harmonies, pensive guitar lines, and synths that flicker between whimsy and introspection.
The echoes are unmistakable—Aztec Camera’s jangly intimacy, Lloyd Cole & The Commotions’ poetic detachment, ABC’s suave sophistication, and the lush textures of Prefab Sprout. Yet Plastic Estate aren’t just ticking off influences. Their sound is a slick, smart recalibration of these elements, distilled into something stylishly their own. The duo manages to evoke a time when pop was both literate and unabashedly romantic while keeping a finger firmly on the pulse of the present, beckoning us to step into their world, where the past dances seamlessly with the now, in a haze of melody and memory.
Their latest single, Tonight, dives into the murky waters of desire and detachment, where longing and loathing dance in a dark alley. It’s a tug-of-war between reaching out and running away—a cycle of craving connection but also craving a clean break. The tension is thick with uncertainty, wanting to see someone – while dreading the ghosts they bring. Plastic Estate lays bare the battle of moving forward while hanging on to what’s already slipped through the cracks, in that familiar fight between old emotions and the pull of a fresh start.
Director Claudia De Acetis spins us into a nocturnal waltz with Plastic Estate for the beautifully filmed video clip, where shadows play their own tricks and neon lights are the only constant companions. We weave through tunnels that echo with lost footsteps and glide along streets bathed in the haze of half-forgotten dreams. The moon lingers overhead, casting its cold, knowing glance on a waterfront that whispers secrets to those bold enough to listen. The city becomes a metaphor for a sleepless soul—where every corner turned offers a new mystery, and every flicker of light promises both escape and entrapment…a midnight affair of uncertain ends.
Watch the video for “Tonight” below:
Hailing from the Welsh capital city of Cardiff, Plastic Estate, comprised of Nicholas James and Stanley Fouracres, is a standout in a small yet superb scene of young post-punk bands. Plastic Estate used the pandemic year to write ten new songs juggling the heritage of lost golden era and the pressing presence of the here and now, sounding classic and contemporary at once.
“Not an easy task,” says the band. “It is rare to stand in the exact spot where you have a full view of the days behind you and the complete control of the moment you are in.”
Code d’Amour is out via Avant on October 11, 2024 Avant! Records. Listen to Tonight below and pre-order the album here.
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