It’s hard to believe that it’s already been seven years since this record came out, but here we are. What’s most surprising about that is that this LP has aged extremely well for such a stylized product. There a timelessness to Chromatics that Johnny Jewel’s other projects doesn’t have going on, maybe because of the up-front presence of the guitar and drums, or the ethereal, instantly appealing vocals of Ruth Radlet. Chromatics are equally at home being played in your bedroom or living room as they are at a club, which is more than I can say for some other neo-italo disco groups.
This LP is still the group’s best work. The lone miss on this record is the needless, puzzling inclusion of a cover of Neil Young’s Into The Black. They choose to open the record with it, which is just weird. But that shouldn’t deter you from sticking it out, because the rest of Kill For Love is an amazing, cinematic experience that should be listened to from front to back, in one sitting, as loudly as possible.
Released by Jewel’s Italians Do It Better imprint, this is currently out of print in all physical formats, but the vinyl can be had for somewhat reasonable prices on Discogs.