Kylie Minogue relies on tried and tested fare with “Tension II”
Published: Wednesday, Oct 16th 2024, 10:20
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Kylie Minogue landed a surprise hit last year with her single "Padam Padam" and the album "Tension". Inspired by this, she is now presenting a follow-up album - which, however, does not live up to its predecessor.
Twenty years after her first Grammy for "Come Into My World", pop star Kylie Minogue was delighted to receive her second this year for "Padam Padam", the lead single from her hit album "Tension". The enormous success felt like a comeback, Kylie Minogue said last year.
"Wow, this is a great moment," she told the Deutsche Prese agency in London, "and I actually want to go straight back into the studio." No sooner said than done. Almost a year and a half later, the pop icon released her next studio album: "Tension II".
Sequel to the successful album
The 56-year-old, who is often called the "Princess of Pop", has reinvented herself time and again during her career and changed her musical style. Not this time. "The 'Tension' era was very special to me," Kylie explained on the announcement of the album and her 'Tension' world tour next year. "I can't possibly let it end now."
Accordingly, on "Tension II" - her record company refers to it as a partner album - she continues her tried-and-tested course with disco anthems, EDM stompers, electro-pop and a touch of the 80s. The album contains nine brand new studio tracks and a few well-known singles, including "My Oh My" with her younger colleagues Bebe Rexha and Tove Lo. The two-time Grammy winner proves once again that good pop music is absolutely not a question of age.
Renowned guests
Other guests include The Blesses Madonna ("Edge Of Saturdaynight") and Sia ("Dance Alone"). "Midnight Ride", a dancefloor number with a strong country influence, is somewhat out of the ordinary. The collaboration with the South African, Canadian-based country singer Orville Peck and DJ Wesley Pentz, alias Diplo, was also included on Peck's recently released album "Stampede".
The successful model can't quite be copied after all. "Tension II" is a solid pop album. In direct comparison with "Tension", however, the partner album clearly comes off worse. The songs are not as catchy, the mix is not as homogeneous. There is a lack of lasting catchy tunes. If "Tension" sounds too electronic or even too modern, you won't be happy with "Tension II" anyway.
Huge world tour
In the increasingly confusing pop landscape, where the fear of artificial intelligence is rampant, Kylie Minogue continues to hold her own in the premier league. And the "Princess of Pop" will once again fill the big halls on her "Tension" tour.
In her former adopted home of London, where she first performed in the huge Hyde Park this year, she will perform four times next year in the large O2 Arena. One concert is planned for Switzerland: on July 6, 2025 in Zurich's Hallenstadion.
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