Released: May 17
On his fifth studio album, Bright Light Bright Light delivers a dance album that taps into a vibrant sense of nostalgia for a body of work that looks to the past of the man behind the music.
While his previous release, ‘Fun City’, leaned into LGBTQ+ nightlife with a winning run of collaborations with acts such as Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears and Erasure’s Andy Bell, this time around he turns the energy up and the strobe lights on for an all-out dance floor celebration.
“Things are pretty shit at the moment and there are times where I really feel like magic has been taken out of the world,” he says of the collection. “I wanted to remind myself that life is pretty special and just focus on the joy we do have.”
Opener You Want My… proves singer-songwriter Rod Thomas’ musical prowess, with an earworm chorus, a spoken-word middle eight that harks back to the classic sounds of Pet Shop Boys’ West End Girls and Madonna’s Vogue, and a tongue-in-cheek reference to George Michael’s I Want Your Sex in the title.
Revived leans into ‘90s house influences while the pulsing beats of Down To One capture the lust and euphoria of the dance floor. The single Boys Etc., with its opening bars of brass and sax, talks about taking a chance at happiness, with an overarching optimism that runs through the set.
‘Enjoy Youth’ packs an impressive run of collaborations, not only with writers and producers such as Ian Masterson, Jon Shave and Richard X, but with a winning array of guest features including dance star Ultra Naté, who lends vocals to the single Every Emotion.
Grammy nominee Mykal Kilgore appears on the vibrant, feelgood Heartslap, while Beth Hirsch – who features on Air’s classic album, ‘Moon Safari’ – sings on the title song, which serves as a tribute to his longtime friend Janice.
Arriving ahead of Pride Month and a return to the UK for a run of shows including Mighty Hoopla, it’s among the strongest work of his career to date and a reminder that Bright Light Bright Light remains one of British music’s best kept secrets.
