Darenote
Pop, 2023
The lead single from Kylie Monogue’s newest album Tension, Padam Padam, is an interesting example of how creating music specifically to be played as part of TikTok clips can be a pretty effective way to rejuvenate one’s career and even introduce one to a new generation.
The title is a reference to the sound of one’s beating heart, and it’s a catchy song that soon becomes annoying quick due to it being used in so many basic TikTok videos. This song has throwaway verses and lyrics, focusing on the catchy chorus and the dance that goes along with it. It’s the perfect thing for basic gays and girls to do that dance while pouting and making exaggerated faces, which I understand is the main form of entertainment for kids with ADHD these days.
It remains to be seen if these Padam Padam fans would translate to a more loyal following, though, as the rest of the album consists of fluffy pop-dance tunes that lack the aggressive earworm nature of the lead single.
The title track, for example, tries to recapture the earworm nature of Padam Padam by having a chorus that sees Ms Minogue going “cool like sor-bet-bet-bet” over and over like a robot having a malfunction, but the rest of the song and the backing track kind of meander after a few minutes.
That’s not to say that the songs aren’t catchy or even great in their own right.
In fact, perhaps because I am ancient, I find Padam Padam the most annoying song here! I have a bigger blast with the other tracks in this album.
Hold On to Now is a rousing song with a catchy chorus, but unfortunately, the song is so overly processed that the melody is nearly submerged by a plethora of studio-generated noise. This high noise to melody ratio is prevalent in most of the songs here, making it harder for me to appreciate any nuance that may be present.
Love Train could very well be the more grown-up sequel to her infamous cover of The Locomotion all those decades ago, as it’s a fun upbeat bop that sees Ms Minogue going all choo-choo playfully as she suggests that the train that is her career isn’t coming to a stop anytime soon.
Then, there is Just Imagine, which would feel more at home in Aphrodite, as it is a whimsical, closest thing to a ballad in this album. Only, it is frustratingly short and hence ends on a rather abrupt and unsatisfying note.
My favorite song of the lot is Story, perhaps because it’s one of the few songs that strike a balance between trying to sound club and showcasing the irresistible catchy nature of the song. This song has also build up and some key changes to keep it more interesting than the other “just play the vocals over whizzy sounds and throbbing beats” songs here. Sadly, like too many of the songs here, it ends too quickly and abruptly.
Somebody to Love is a rather quaint track because the basic melody of the song is very reminiscent of Ms Minogue’s early days with PWL. Perhaps absence makes the heart fonder, as this one is a pretty atmospheric tune that feels nihilistic in a fabulous glory to the 1990s, someone play this over the closing credits of a movie way.
The only thing that makes me wince here, aside from mild trauma from hearing Padam Padam again after being overexposed to it, is how Ms Minogue’s voice feels even more shrill and mechanical here to the point that she’s now neck deep in kettle whistle territory. I personally find the album more enjoyable when I put some distance between me and the speakers while listening to the songs!
Tension isn’t an innovative album by any means, but it’s a fun one with many good pop tunes. In fact, it’s that sequel to the awesome Fever album that has never arrived… until now.
