Empire of the Sun, “Ask That God.”

Australian electro-pop duo Empire of the Sun enjoyed its fair share of success in the electronic scene across. That’s despite releasing just three albums over 17 years. Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore spent the majority of the past eight years, since 2016’s Two Vines, touring the globe. Their fourth, Ask That God, gives them plenty more material to tour.

They’ve described the record as being about “coming to terms with mortality and eternal freedom.” Ask That God invokes feelings of nostalgia, bliss, sadness and vulnerability. Empire of the Sun accomplishes this while still packing it with plenty of danceable tracks.

The duo grabs listeners’ attention immediately with “Changes.” A climbing and falling synth flute melody is paired with a cool, pulsing bass line. A layered electric pop vocals and fat beat are added to the mix, getting things off to an explosive start. The lyrics acknowledge that things have changed, and perhaps even grown, with time.

“Cherry Blossom” blooms out of a washed-out snare and tight kick. The lo-fi guitar lines, hanging synth chords and Steele’s voice all come together around the song’s center. The end result is an electro-pop summer love track that brings back memories of simpler times, while still encouraging us to enjoy the time we have now.

“I wish that I could change the weather,” the duo sings on single “Music on the Radio,” getting to the point right off the bat. There’s a common desire for things to be better, “but I sing along,” the band espouses. With its grooving beat and catchy lyrics, the song shows that it’s OK to want more and still try to have fun playing along. The atmospheric chords and invigorating chorus are the finishing touches that make it a highlight.

Empire of the Sun pays homage to different decades of music on different tracks. “The Feeling You Get” is a dance track born out of the ’80s with its squishy-sounding synth bass and emotion-fueled vocals. The melody on “Television” sounds like Discovery-era Daft Punk. Australian trio Pnau joins Empire of the Sun as it jumps to 2010s EDM with the introspective (but still danceable) “AEIOU.” The large, looping synth on this song recalls early Avicii and Deadmau5. These three songs are representative of the rest of the album in how every track on Ask That God has its own twist, and each one is meant to get listeners moving.

A fluttering synth played with the duo’s robotic vocal effects and spacey sounds creates room for “Happy Like You,” another of the album’s gems, to fly. The chorus on the relatable track features a funky bass line and layered vocals that propel the song forward. “Revolve” is also layered with Steele’s signature vocals and hanging synth chords. “Wild World” then slows the album down with gentle vocals and slow sequences of robotic sounds. An echoing drum fill opens the song, followed by an ethereal chiming melody.

The title track is another ’80s-style anthem. With a simple beat and uplifting instrumentation, the song gradually brings the pace back up. Airy vocals hypnotize listeners. But Ask That God then takes a significant turn. “Rhapsodize” features entertaining dialogue over a blissful jam. A blend of cultural influences come together in the arrangement on this mesmerizing sonic tribute to nature.

Closer “Friends I Know” almost entirely turns away from the electronica of the rest of the album. Instead, it’s a vulnerable piano ballad, over which Empire of the Sun layered robotic vocals that add flair. In a way, it sums up the album with its theme of how some—but not all—things have changed. We’ve been hurt and made mistakes, growing from them. Here we are now.