In case you’ve already forgotten, the Scissor Sisters recently unveiled one of the most brilliant tunes of 2010, “Invisible Light.” Here is a reminder:
Yep. Still amazing.
But now, we’ve got our hands on the first official single from Night Work, “Fire With Fire.”
Straying from the dirty disco sounds of “Invisible Light” in favor of glam arena rock (from Frankie Goes to Hollywood to Freddie Mercury, if you will), the Sisters’ debut single is an abridged dance-rock anthem for the new decade. It’s a different sound than “Invisible Light,” but not all that separate either. Know what I mean?
All in all, the single proves equally indicative of the potential brilliance of Night Work. I approve.
The name Boogaloo Stu hasn’t made its way onto MuuMuse since the very early days of its inception (Oh hey, May 2008!), but it’s about to reemerge from the depths.
As kind of a pre-Gaga creation, Stu’s music and image– at least to me–was all about celebratory ’80′s kitsch and quirky pop melodies a la “Magnetic Heart.” Well, I believe I’ve been mistaken.
With “Forever More,” Stu has toned down the camp considerably (well, lyrically anyway) and given into some vastly moodier electro-pop. This is some seriously good stuff–a darker, more complex synth production in the same vein as Alex Gardner‘s “I’m Not Mad” or a scaled down version of Röyksopp and Robyn‘s “Girl and the Robot.”
“I tell you now that this is real. I can’t erase the way I feel,” Stu monotones, “I’m gonna love you.” I was absolutely obsessed when I first heard it, and I remain very much so now.
The “Forever More” EP will be released on June 21.
M.I.A.‘s “XXXO” is a delicious, concise cut of modern electro-pop. Clocking in at just under three minutes and in keeping with her second album’s sound (“Jimmy”) and her dancier beginnings (Arular), the song is easily one of the artist’s most glittery pop productions yet.
In fact, “XXXO” is so accessibly electro-pop that it seems the release of her controversial rebel rant from a few weeks ago, “Born Free,” was probably meant as a kind of warning shot before this song’s release.
As if to curtail the dreaded “sell out!!!” comments she may have gotten for releasing this song first, “Born Free” kept the political punch of M.I.A.’s career coming back with power power, allowing this new song to sneak by with something far more…well, user friendly. (There are lyrics about tweeting!) It’s just a shame the song doesn’t last longer.
I still don’t know if “XXXO” could actually impact mainstream radio, but it’s probably M.I.A.’s most likely candidate (aside from the entirely over-hyped “Paper Planes.”) Then again, I’m not sure M.I.A. wants to be played on the radio.
On a side note, the beginning note is near identical to Ke$ha‘s “Blah Blah Blah,” which produces a strange fear in me every time I hit play.
The heartbreak isn’t over.
Robyn‘s first single from her upcoming EP, Body Talk Part 1, finds the singer as solemn as ever, dancing alone and mourning the love she’s lost.
“Dancing on My Own” is essentially the sequel to her first collaboration with Kleerup, “With Every Heartbeat,” featuring a moody, plodding synthesized beat and a ceaseless burst of rapid-fire, machine gun electronica.
It’s quintessentially Kleerupian (EDIT: or not, as this track was produced by Patrik Berger) and undeniably Robyn at her most vulnerable, all tied together and topped with a big bow of Swede pop perfection.
This is sad disco at its finest, ladies and gentlemen.
After 19 years, Sade has returned with a comeback single called “Soldier of Love,” the band’s first release in nearly ten years.
Generally, it’s damn near perfection.
But as the lead single from an album with a cover like this, could the group ever go wrong in the first place? Didn’t think so.
















