So, funny story, the first time I listened to "Footprint Affair" by Palace Pasador, it was by accident while trying to tap in with Lexx's recent record. I'm still not really sure how it happens, but as it turns out, these self-styled frontrunners of "Switzerland's underground Dub Pop movement" have really got it going on.

Chances are, you've heard their voices before via releases from Fuga Ronto, who our own Apiento described as "one of the finest bands existing in the "balearic" (in inverted commas intentionally) scene in a review of their 2021 album "Greatest Treasure", which you can read here. This time around, as they put it, "The songs on "Footprint Affair" speak of admiration for gentleman thieves, the perpetual search for happiness, the touch of magic and seduction, and cozy spaceship excursions at night—always wrapped in infectious grooves, vibrant synthesizers, and layers of delay effects."

This is one of those records that caught me from the first song, which was, of course, the titular number 'Footprint Affair'. It sounds like Tom Tom Club reimagined in a European boogie mode, before being draped in shades of The RAH Band and some nice dub moments. Up next, 'Looking For Clovers' keeps things bubbly, optimistic and oddly naive. It's also worth noting that both of these songs turn up again later on the album in even dubbier versions. Just so sweet.

'Fizzy Spells' matches cascading crystalline melodies with clockwork rhythms before exploding into a bouncy technopop beat and adding in some spoken word vocals at the end. 'Suzanna's Side Eyes' is a glorious fusion of driving synth bass and party rocking handclaps and cowbells that expands into a vividly cinematic dance-pop instrumental. Actually, it's not really an instrumental, but the vocals included don't involve verse or chorus-type deployments per se. From there, 'Alpha Nightsky' sees Palace Pasador in signature dub pop mode, mixing eighties aesthetics with 2010s cultural references to joyful effect. There's an extra dub mix of this one included as well.

From there, "Footprint Affair" cycles through some more experimentation and bounce before gently fading from view. This is sunset music that's also sunrise music. These are peak time party tunes you can gently chill to as well. I'd pack some of this record for a late-night dancefloor or a sunny afternoon DJ set. Palace Pasador are making really flexible music, and sometimes that's what it's all about.

Footprint Affair is out now through Phantom Island (Order here)