It’s all what it says on the cover. Light hearted disco house for home dancing pleasures. Or when my soul needs some easy to digest pop fun but I still want quality music.
Future Disco – Dance Club
Ulver – Flowers of Evil
This is not an overall great pop rock record. I had to check a few times while listening that I’m still listening to Ulver—this style and sound feels alien for me coming from them. That said, Machine Guns and Peacock Feathers is a flawless pop rock song.
Róisín Murphy – Roisin Machine
I probably haven’t listened to this much Róisín Murphy since the solo debut. Signature sound, great pop music, disco vibes.
Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
Mainstream pop is one of my least listened to genres of music, that is to say I probably only listen to less harsh noise than radio pop because in the grocery store and the gym they are less likely to have some Merzbow playing.
That said, this Dua Lipa album is my favorite pick in this area from the first half of 2020. Physical has the biggest hook and the Let’s Get Physical Work Out Video is just brilliant. The original one is nice, too, but aesthetically this complements the sound in a great way. (Also, giving this single a comeback with this second music video just before the release of the album was smart as hell.) And Good in Bed is just the most fun track of the lot.
Ultraísta – Sister
Self-defiend as alternative, although I listen to this as pop music to listen to in the background. Probably that’s the fail in positioning: it can easily be too pop for an alternative listener but just weird enough not to be played on mainstream radio. However there’s the one hit wonder track (Tin King), which can make its way to all the commercials and TV series soundtracks to financially support the record.
RedScope – Am I on Your Mind
Random light-hearted electronic pop hit, probably my most listened to while easing into the summer this year. Another one of those being one by Dua Lipa, but that’s for another post.
Aurora – A Different Kind Of Human – Step 2
Quality electronic pop music, classic nordic style.
YONAKA – Don’t Wait ‘Til Tomorrow
Power pop. That kind of band that has a few great and powerful tracks, and then an album packed with the same stuff with minor differences, which feels repetitive. Probably this is the kind of pop music that’s better and just enough in single format. They should write and focus on pop hits and there’s no need to push out a bunch of fillers just to make it a long player’s length worth.
Elder Island – The Omnitone Collection
Electronic, pop, soul. It’s like the Bristol rework of German nu jazz. Great concept of cover series for the singles and the album.
Ibibio Sound Machine – Doko Mien
Very summer world-pop.