Kylie Minogue is probably best known for her 2001 dance hit “Can’t Get You Out of My Head,” with its infectious disco beat and infamous “la la la” hook. Well she’s back at it again with her new album “Kiss Me Once,” her first studio album release since “Aphrodite” in 2010.
Minogue is widely regarded as an international pop icon, and has also been appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II, for her many contributions to the music world. After 30 years of performing catchy chart-toppers, “Kiss Me Once” sounds original and fresh while showing that Minogue still possesses the same pleasantly soft, breathy quality in her voice.
Unlike most pop artists who reach their musical peak sometime after 20 years of performing, Minogue hasn’t faltered one bit. Her pop princess flare shines through in this album and her songs aren’t just generic pop songs, they’re specifically tailored to her – clearly showing that she’s having fun doing what she loves.
The album opens up with her uplifting electro pop track “Into the Blue,” a song about independence, freedom and staying optimistic even when you’ve got your “back up against the wall.” Accompanied by a rushing wave of synthesizers and crystalline vocals over a climactic dance hook, the song proves to be irresistibly catchy and even has undertones of a “classic” Kylie pop hit.
Her next track “Million Miles” starts out with a soft guitar solo that leaves you to think that this may be one of her slower pop ballads, right before launching into a bridge with vocally sultry purrs, bringing you into a fast-paced chorus with a fist-pumpin beat. The song talks about Minogue’s physical desire for a man without feeling any sort of emotional connection.
The theme of physical desire and sex seems to be recurrent throughout the album with songs like dubstep – inspired “sexercise”, upbeat and carefree “sexy love”, and sassily fierce “Les Sex”. Although these songs may be depthless, Minogue manages to keep them classy and polite while still adding a little bit of her naughty side to it without sounding way too raunchy – something most pop artists nowadays fail to do.
Despite this, the album does have a few songs that talk about a more deeper kind of romance than just a one-night fling. The sleekness of the production quality ties the two polar opposite themes together into the perfect electronica dream.
The title song “Kiss Me Once” and the album’s only duet with Enrique Iglesias, “Beautiful,” prove to be prime examples of the album’s more in-depth and romantic tracks. Both songs celebrate the love between two people and having each other to go through the ups and downs or relationships.
The album closes with “Fine,” a techno tune accompanied by airy vocals that soar through the chorus, reassuring the listener that even though life has you down everything is going to be fine. After having some fun with a few playfully naughty dance tunes and going deeper with more romantic and meaningful ballad-inspired songs, the optimistic and encouraging mood of the final song perfectly ties up the album and reminds you that all you have to do is “turn your face into the sun,sun,sun” and you’re going to be fine.