So This Is Goodbye sounds more like the title of a farewell album that the sophomore effort from one of Canada’s hottest up and coming bands. Nonetheless, it looks like the Junior Boys – Jeremy Greenspan and Matt Didemus to their friends – have no plans to say goodbye just yet, it seems they’re very much intent on sticking around for the long haul judging by this album.

Having collaborated with Canadian IDM DJ Caribou (formerly known as Manitoba) since before their first album, Last Exit, it’s no surprise that the Boys’ music is backed by luscious synths and laidback beats. But, defying easy categorisation as coffee table chill-out music (a la Zero 7), Jeremy’s song-writing and vocals make the band sound rather more ‘indie’, despite their electronic base.

Though the opening track is faintly reminiscent of New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’ and ‘Count Souvenirs’ is just one that sounds a little like Depeche Mode, the most accurate of the 80s comparisons is probably Talk Talk, for this is a gentle, delicate and yet beautiful and multi-layered pop record. Melodic vocal tracks like ‘First Time’ set the tone for what is very much an intelligent pop album, yet it’s the slightly darker, edgier ‘Double Shadow’ and ‘Like A Child’ that really stand out. Special mention must also go to the Sinatra cover, ‘When No One Cares’, in which the beats disappear to be replaced by a minimalist vibrating echo, backing the haunting vocal.

For all its sophistication and effortless blending genres, however, overall the album feels somehow flat and one-dimensional; there’s just not enough variation or excitement to make a good and promising second album into an already great one.

While it rewards repeated listens, and is a definite grower, so far it seems that this isn’t quite the masterpiece the Junior Boys are seemingly heading toward. Maybe that will be realised with their third release, or maybe even by this one, with the hindsight that comes from many further listens. For now, though, it seems potential isn’t quite fulfilled, so I certainly hope this isn’t goodbye just yet.
(3½/5)