The simple and sharp title on the cover art, accompanied by an eclectic image of Minogue and a background peppered with stars, tells you all you need to know about the Australian singer’s whopping fifteenth studio album that recently rendered her the first woman to have UK number-one albums in five consecutive decades.
Disco is a return to her dancefloor-ready club music roots after an extended sabbatical to country with her 2018 LP Golden; the tracklist is chock-full of shamelessly enjoyable bops with electrifying production that emits a warm, glittery glow and euphoric sense of nostalgia. Songwriting-wise the body of work takes optimism to the nth degree, allowing it to serve as a pleasant distraction in these uncertain times of hardship, filling the listener with a sense of fantastical hope. The heart of the record is its production, and while it can feel samey at times it is undeniably polished and well-executed, which is an even more impressive feat in the knowledge that the vast majority of the album was recorded at Minogue’s home during lockdown. Kylie literally takes you to a different world – with a consistent lyrical theme of galactic and space-related metaphor to describe love and relationships, Disco is a danceable escape wrapped in shimmering beats and Minogue’s trademark feathery vocals.
A favourite for me, as well as among critics and fans alike, is the intoxicating earworm “Supernova” which is characterised by its distorted and robotic vocal delivery in the catchy chorus that immediately sets it apart from the rest of the songs. Its supernatural elements shine through in the lyrics as well, with Minogue crooning that “all I need is just a little bit of your starlight”. It’s both a romantic and sentimental track about finding your one true love and a club-ready dance tune with some of the best production on the record, showcasing that after all these years Kylie can still produce monster hits.
I was also impressed by the ostentatious opening track “Magic” which has a more chill vibe in its chorus, but still carries a sharp and sonorous energy making use of horns and strings in its instrumentation. It’s uplifting and empowering lyrically-speaking as Minogue describes a bountiful and precious new relationship (“it’s crazy, I’m falling, I don’t know what else to call it”). Meanwhile, the more sensual “Miss a Thing” sees Minogue utilising breathless vocals and confident delivery to exemplify the importance of taking chances in relationships, using the context of a dancefloor through assertive lines like “don’t wanna take it slow, I wanna lose control”. It’s a glorious cacophony of disco magic that certainly has single potential and I really enjoyed it.
All in all, Disco is in my opinion a marvelous return to form for Minogue with captivating lyrical imagery, energetic and glitzy production and her trademark charming voice on display for all to hear. Though it may not be as substantial message-wise as other great records released this year, stylistically and sonically it is definitely among my favourite albums of 2020.
9/10
About Author
