GusGus - Higher ft. VÖK (2020)
Содержание
On 30 October 2020, GusGus released a new single "Higher", which was created in collaboration with the vocalist from another Icelandic band, VÖK. This collaboration is a stylistic return to the formation's roots, filled with synthesised sounds of vocal electronics.
GusGus is waking up from his summer slumber....
GusGus fans didn't have much to be happy about during the last year. Yes, of course, a disc with remixes of tracks from the last full-length album "Lies are more flexible" was released....
... And there was also one single, "Out of Place," which was like a throwback to an old album.
About "Higher"(2020)
Higher was created in co-operation with the vocalist from VÖK, who also hails from Iceland. Margret Rán Magnúsdóttir usually works in a more "dreamy" style - pop music - but the singer has a lot in common with electronica. She fit in perfectly with the dance aesthetic of the Higher (2020) number she was invited to perform on.
The nearly four-minute musical journey begins immediately with a hypnotically mesmerising bass drum that effortlessly builds tension with every second. The track showcases what GusGus does best - it seduces the listener with an addictive rhythm and delivers grandiose, implacable melodies.
Glitchy, stabbing synths quickly enter the sonic space alongside Iceland's favourite female voice, which takes refuge in mind-expanding soundscapes. The lyrics explore motifs of loneliness, greed and human manipulation and propel their message against a backdrop of new, ecstatic sonic realms. Cerebral and atmospheric from start to finish, slow rhythmic beats, brooding bass lines, soothing repetitions and lush melodies characterise much of the rest of this lively electronic synth-pop.
Video clip
As a diverse artistic collective incorporating creative elements across the spectrum, a GusGus release would not be without a striking visual accompaniment. Directed by Arni & Kinski, creative masterminds behind many Sigur Ros, Kiasmos and Olafur Arnalds videos, this stunning music video takes centre stage with GusGus' newest talent, Margret Rahn. The band return to their musical home for the first time since 2000, hiring world-renowned designer Palomo Spain to create their wardrobe and style. The collaboration, known for its androgynous sensibility, serves as a perfect extension of the band's boundless creative appetite and immerses couture into the world of GusGus.
Comparison
More attentive listeners of the band will notice that "Higher" is a bit more dynamic than the previous songs. Many fans have come to miss the more dynamic, danceable and pulsating compositions of GusGus. "Lies are more flexible" for all its beauty was, a bit slower. And, of course, "Higher" (2020) doesn't compare to the kind of work that, for example, was on the album "24/7" (2009).
The gentle sound of GusGus will have us soon hearing new batches of dance tunes, and with them any songs we've been sorely missing!