Gothic Summer

Delivered relatively swiftly after Godzilla and Human -- the twin 2021 albums that found the duo returning to action after a nearly seven-year hiatus -- Gothic Summer shows how the Veronicas can nimbly follow fashion at the beginning of their second decade as they did at the onset of their career. Gothic Summer is an album optimized for the age of streaming: its lean, barely lasting 20 minutes -- and thats with an acoustic rendition of the barbed "Perfect" as the records closer -- moving ruthlessly through stylistic territory without ever landing in a specific genre. Stripping away the heavy dance trappings of Human, the Veronicas nevertheless retain an affection for buzzy electronics and nocturnal club throb. "Here to Dance" is a slice of sharp, retro-disco and "Savage" is a kinetic EDM number filled with bottomless bass drops and a rap cameo from Kerser. Instead of providing the Veronicas with a lodestar, this dance-pop is an accent on a record that is, at its core, a cousin to the fizzy power pop of their earliest records. Underneath the trendy sounds, the band remains a potent pop force. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

豪ブリスベンの双子姉妹デュオの、ジャケにも惹かれる6作目。漠然とした80sのイメージを膨らませたような曲が並び、とはいえトラヴィス・バーカー共作のエレポップ"Perfect"、パンキッシュに疾走する"Detox"、ディスコ・ポップの"Here To Dance"、青春パワー・ポップの"Savage"など曲調はさまざまに楽しい。ゴールドフィンガーのジョン・フェルドマンがプロデュース。
bounce (C)轟ひろみ