Cruelty without Beauty (Cooking Vinyl/spinART)

If you long for the days when electronic music ruled the airwaves, it’s time to get out your parachute pants. Marc Almond and Dave Ball, the synth-pop duo that produced the ’80s it “Tainted Love,” are back with their first album in 18 years. As if the musicians never left the scene, the disc kicks off with the beat-heavy “Darker Times" and “Monoculture,” and sounds like Halloween background music on the haunting “Le Grand Guignol.” For fans of alt-dance groups like Erasure, New Order, and Depeche Mode, this release is a welcome listen. — J.E.M.