Kylie Minogue is helping inject disco back into 2020 in a huge way with the release of her appropriately titled fifteenth studio album, ’DISCO’. This cohesively sparkly and playful collection of tracks is her strongest body of work since ‘Aphrodite’ in 2010. From the well executed concept, to the immaculately produced tracks, and the infectiously written hooks, she transports you back into the 80’s while looking through a fresh new perspective.
Opening with the bold and defining ‘Magic’ (which I still believe should’ve been the lead single over ‘Say Something’), she immediately gets you into the zone as she opens up the portal and delivers you synth banger after synth banger with groovy baselines and big choruses ready to be screamed along to in arenas.
Straight off the bat ‘Miss A Thing’ and ‘Real Groove’ give Ms Dua Lipa a run for her money after delivering a similar album concept with ‘Future Nostalgia’ earlier this year. She then effortlessly glides into the cheesy ‘Monday Blues’ which really shouldn’t be a favourite, but it is. It’s just so carefree, and nostalgic that you don’t even care when she sings the cringeworthy “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, it’s the weekend”.
‘Supernova’ then simultaneously shocks and slays while you ponder why this wasn’t a lead single, as it’s undoubtedly one of the strongest pop songs on the record, and is also the most classically Kylie inclined with an energy similar to ‘Your Disco Needs You’. Embodying the nostalgia fuelled energy, ’Last Chance’ is a song that truly sounds like it belongs in the 70’s or 80’s, and would’ve been a perfect collaboration with Barry Gibb from the Bee Gees, while ‘Unstoppable’ has a Michael Jackson energy in its delivery which is so vibrant and fun to hear.
‘Where Does The DJ Go?’ may just be one of the most ridiculous tracks on the record, but it’s ever so brilliant at the same time. It’s camp, and everything about a disco album you expected from Kylie. ‘Dance Floor Darling’ then backs it up with a slick delivery, which is more so a mature attempt at disco-pop, and it’s so lush, and an immediate standout.
Sadly, the album isn’t flawless. ‘I Love It’ and ‘Celebrate You’ are ultimately forgettable and lose themselves amongst the rest of the record, and ‘Say Something’ also follows suit which is upsetting as it was the lead single. But there are just so many stronger and more memorable moments that make this album standout and feel so unique, and luckily they don’t detract too much from the impact it ends up making.
‘DISCO’ was the record that Kylie Minogue needed to make in 2020. It’s a carefree, playful and empowering collection of tracks that doesn’t take life too seriously. And after the wild year that we’ve all had, we deserve something a little playful.