Gary Jules, Starship and Electric Youth may not seem like they have anything in common but they share the distinction of having a song become a huge smash on the back of a movie. A striking tune like A Real Hero in such an iconic film as Drive could have been like an albatross around Electric Youth’s neck. That “one” song could become all a band would ever be associated with.

It can be a struggle to convince listeners that there is more to a band that that one tune. However signs were emerging that Electric Youth may be sitting on music even better than A Real Hero, when Runaway was released as a single from their new album ‘Innerworld’.

The Canandian duo have been around since 2011 and they’ve taken their time to sculpt an album that shows they will be more than a future “who were they” question on a quiz. A Real Hero though, is a good example of what to expect as Austin Garwick’s cooler-than-a-penguin’s-feet synth is perfectly matched to Bronwyn Griffin’s understated vocals.

Innerworld has a  chilled movie soundtrack atmosphere which is no surprise whilst recording the album, Garwick and Griffin were inspired by classic movies such as Metropolis and Videodrome. Songs like the beautifully languid Innocence which wraps it’s ’80s style synth waves around your ears, epitomize this soundtrack feel. The tempo shifts subtly throughout, though don’t expect it to ever reach a sprint. A scamper or a scurry is as quick as ‘Innerworld’ moves, but the change of pace is nonetheless welcome on tracks like the excellent Without You and WeAreTheYouth. Elsewhere it’s much more sedate on impressive tracks like If All She Has Is You and The Best Thing.

It would have great to see Electric Youth expand their synth sound in terms of tone. It’s all very laid back and light. A little darkness or menace would have given ‘Innerworld’ a greater degree of variation. Tracks like Tomorrow and Another Story feel like they have exhausted the formula and don’t offer anything substantially different from what has gone before them.

The aforementioned A Real Hero does make an appearance near the end of the album. It ensures the album ends on the high note it needed. Electric Youth have shown that there’s a lot more to them than one song and ensure they won’t be mentioned in the same breath as Starship or Gary Jules. ‘Innerworld’ captures a relaxed laid back mood, where the world around slows down to just enjoy the moment.