Aphrodite

Splendid dance pop music from Kylie Minogue

It have been already more than two decades since Kylie Minogue’s hits Loco Motion and I Should Be So Lucky became favorite songs of thousands of listeners all around the globe. The Australian singer, today an adopted Great Britain citizen, has become an idol for millions of people, the sexiest pop performer in Europe and one of the law-makers of the dance pop music. Such world hits as Confide In Me, Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, Love At First Sight and many others never get old, always remaining fresh and contemporary. Three years ago Kylie let us refresh them in our memory releasing the compilation Showgirl Homecoming, which included the best songs of her repertoire. Her jubilee album X was released that same year, and since then the singer was occupied with quite a tense schedule of her touring. Time passes, however, and Minogue has recently locked herself up in the studio again together with several authors and producers. Among them there were Nerina Pallot and Andy Chatterley, Calvin Harris, Keane’s Tim Rice-Oxley, Jake Shears and Babydaddy of Scissor Sisters, Greg Kurstin and Stuart Price. The latter is the official producer of her new album Aphrodite which is finally release to provide this summer with the splendid dance pop music from Kylie Minogue.

Aphrodite: sexuality, joy, passion, love of life and freedom

The first single All The Lovers has already anticipated the record’s success becoming one of the most downloaded song in the Internet and a track played at all hot parties. According to Kylie herself, the single contains everything that the album Aphrodite has to offer. This is all the associations you have with the pop princess’ name: sexuality, joy, passion, love of life and freedom. Although quite a lot of songs were written initially only the most vivid ones got chosen for the record, and none of the ballads ended up on the definitive version. Thus Aphrodite is completely meant for dancing and entertaining. The composition Get Outta My Way starts from some optimistic major keyboards and pleases with a memorable chorus, and Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love) conquers with a contagious house beat and the lyrics in which loneliness and belief in love are united. A bit more tranquil song Closer lets us take a little rest, but not to relax because it is still hot and full of passion, and the title track proves to be a notably bold and stylish dance number. The compositions Better Than Today and Looking For An Angel can be easily considered as highlights and ready-made hits, whereas the tracks Too Much and Cupid Boy showcase Kylie’s passionate nature. The album closes with another potential party hit Can't Beat The Feeling with an interesting arrangement and lyrics telling how hard it is to resist the charge of dance energy.

Returning to the beginning of the millennium’s dance hits

Kylie Minogue is a world level star. Her music may be light, it does not has any deep meaning, with the exception of a few compositions, but it always the necessary ingredients for a pop hit. Comparing Aphrodite with the album Х one can notice at once that the singer has remembered f her successful dance collections and decided to return to those times. We could hear some nice pop tunes on Х with a small portion of experimentation – there were glam and electronica elements on that record – whereas we see the same sexy dance floor star on Aphrodite whom we remember from the beginning of the new millennium. Kylie’s vocals sound wonderfully soft and seductive on the new record, sometimes she passes to mesmerizing whispering (All The Lovers), and one can hear nice falsetto notes at other moments (Better Than Today), and each time she does it in a harmonious and very natural way. Such a joyful and optimistic album reflects the very essence of Kylie Minogue perfectly well, and it is even probable that it is going to become her farewell release. Anyway, it is still too early to state anything concrete, because there's no denying that the artist has all the world’s inspiration and vitality.