Forget the fantastically misleading title andshy;the second album from Mancunian dance outfit Alpinestars is not so much a towering sonic experiment as a rather heavy-handed homage to the unfashionable genre of 80s synthpop. Nothing wrong in that of course, but sadly the overwrought histrionics and general clumsiness of the duo's homages to New Order and the Pet Shop Boys renders White Noise an oddly dispiriting listening experience. Some light relief is provided by the guest appearance of Placebo's Brian Molko, but while his sneering voice works well on the dynamic standout track 'Carbon Kid', it only serves to highlight the lack of character of the vocals elsewhere. Alpinestars certainly can't be accused of not aiming high, but you have to wonder if there's much point when you miss so spectacularly as they do here.

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