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Stepping into Janelle Monae’s ArchAndroid space utopia is like listening to Amusement for the first time. In ‘The ArchAndroid’ love faces challenges before it can blossom, whilst our interactions are defined by the futuristic environment which Monae helps to envisage. These ideas are enough to make this concept an interesting one and in similar circumstances, the Croydon two-piece’s collection of songs help to evoke an otherworldly and arguably just as intriguing set of sounds. Amusement’s vast, futuristic palette gives an alien feel to these songs but at the same time, the vocals are bellowed, allowing for a human connection that would otherwise be absent were these efforts entirely instrumental.

These two artists probably aren’t connected or aware of each other in the slightest. One thing’s certain: They certainly don’t consult their ideas with one another. But their imaginative works are both vivid and open to interpretation. Were a song like ‘Take Me Alive’ to find itself surrounded by ambient interludes and stirring spoken word sections, we’d have an extremely adept and challenging album on our hands.

For now, we revel in the experience of just two songs: ‘Why Does Nothing Grow’ and the aforementioned ‘Take Me Alive’. In each case, the words rush out at you; the structure barely maintains an actual form; Amusement get kicks from the art of surprise. In amongst the dense fog of spiralling synthetics - giving a rush of blood to the two-piece’s songs - is an instinctual knack for progression. Occasionally we’re offered a rousing few seconds where a song teeters on the brink of becoming anthemic but more often than not, the pair are more pre-occupied with moving on and exploring unknown territory. The ambition of it all couldn’t be more distinct.

Take Me Alive by Amusement.

Why Does Nothing Grow by Amusement.