Tension (Kylie Minogue album)

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Tension
File:Kylie - Tension.png
Studio album by Kylie Minogue
Released 22 September 2023 (2023-09-22)
Recorded 2021–2023
Length 35:51
Label
Producer
Kylie Minogue chronology
Infinite Disco
(2022)		 Tension
(2023)
Singles from Tension (Kylie Minogue album)

Tension is the upcoming sixteenth studio album by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. It will be released on 22 September 2023 by BMG Rights Management and Minogue's company, Darenote. It was announced in May 2023, marking Minogue's first new body of work since her 2020 album, Disco. Inspired to create a record that showcases each song's individualism without a core theme, Minogue enlisted the help of collaborators Richard "Biff" Stannard, Duck Blackwell, Jackson Foote, and Lostboy, to name a few.

Influenced by electropop, Tension includes a wide range of pop-electronic genres, ranging from 1980s synthpop, disco, and funk, to contemporary dance-pop and EDM notes. Despite having no central theme, Tension features songwriting that explores love, heartbreak, and having fun. Prior to its release, Tension received positive reviews from music critics who praised the album's sonic variety, as well as its catchiness and production standard.

Minogue has released three singles to promote the album: "10 out of 10", "Padam Padam", and the title track. The first was released as a promotional track in collaboration with Dutch DJ and producer Oliver Heldens. "Padam Padam" and the title track followed, with the former achieving a commercial breakthrough for the singer. Minogue has made several live appearances including American Idol, the Capital Summertime Ball, and the Radio 2 Live show in Hyde Park. Furthermore, Minogue will begin her first Las Vegas residency show, More Than Just a Residency, in November 2023.

Background and production

On 6 November 2020, Minogue released her fifteenth studio album titled Disco.[3] It was a musical departure from her country-pop-inspired record Golden (2018), and it marked a return to a disco-oriented sound with which she had previously worked.[4] Her approach to disco, and dance music in general, was well received by music critics, and ended up becoming a commercial success in various markets.[5][6][7] After promotion for Disco ended, Minogue appeared on BBC Radio 2 to discuss new music, stating "Perhaps it's going a bit more electropop. Don't quote me that [...] but that's what's on the boil at the minute."[8]. Minogue confirmed this in a June 2022 interview with Vogue Magazine, citing her 2003 single "Slow" as a reference point for the record's sound.[9]

The record's initial collaborations began with long-time producers Richard "Biff" Stannard and Duck Blackwell, who had ideas for embracing 1980s music and culture. However, plans changed and it was decided not to focus on a theme for Tension, stating "Initially we were thinking 80s, but it didn’t pan out that way [...] we agreed there’s no theme [and that] it’d be refreshing not to have a theme after having done Golden and Disco."[10] In May 2023, She added, "I wanted to celebrate each song's individuality and to dive into that freedom."[11]

Recording session for Tension were scheduled to begin in July 2022.[9] Minogue continued to work on the album in various locations, including Melbourne, Brighton, London, Surrey, Croatia and Paris.[9][12] The majority of the album was written between Minogue's recent return to Melbourne and hotels in London where most of her collaborators worked.[10] "Padam Padam", one of the album's tracks, was sent to Minogue by her A&R Jamie Nelson, who recorded it at a hotel in London; it was one of the album's later recorded songs.[10] One of the sessions in Surrey between Minogue, Stannard, Blackwell, and producer Jon Green resulted in ten finished recorded songs in five days.[10] When selected the final tracks for Tension, Minogue said, "If the song could stand up on its own and if it bumped up nicely with the other songs, that’s the album."[10]

Songs

Tension opens with the first single, "Padam Padam", written by Ina Wroldsen and its producer Lostboy. The song, a "hypnotic" electronic number with synth and dance-pop elements,[13] is a reference to the heartbeat and is considered the album's centerfold for its sound.[14][15] The second song on the album, "Hold On To Now", was co-written by Minogue. Its synth-driven sound and "earnest" songwriting have been compared to the words of Swedish singer Robyn.[15] "Things We Do for Love", the third track, features synths, guitar, and drum riffs reminiscent of 1980s synthpop and power pop.[14][16] Critics noted the album's fourth track, "Tension," as the only experimental piece.[17][18] Featuring vocoder on Minogue’s vocal deliveries and jangly piano riffs, the title track is inspired by 90s house music with elements of dance and electronic pop.[19][20]

The album's fifth track, "One More Time", is an uptempo pop-funk-disco hybrid that sonically resembles Minogue's previous album, Disco (2020).[16][17] "You Still Get Me High" is the sixth track on the album, and it returns to Minogue's exploration of 1980s pop-dance sound from "Things We Do for Love".[16][14] Its lyrical content, inspired by themes surround love, was noted as a lyrical centrepiece to the album's overall songwriting.[14] "Hands" and "Green Light", the sixth and seventh tracks on the album, were noted as mid-tempo pieces inspired by R&B and funk; neither track was co-written by Minogue. "Hands" features a "nostalgic" disco-inspired funky bass line,[17] while "Green Light" features early-1980s pop elements, complete with a saxophone solo.[16]

"Vegas High", the album's ninth track, was used as an intro piece to Minogue's announcement of her Las Vegas residency. Musically, it's a fast-paced club song.[14] "10 out of 10" is the album's first and only featured track, featuring Dutch DJ and producer Oliver Heldens. The track was released as a promotional single months before the release of its parent album. According to Helden, the track "is inspired by 80s synth-pop and disco, 90s house, and 00s Eurodance, with a modern dance music twist."[21] "Story", the album's final track on the standard edition, returns to the 1980s sound that runs throughout the record. Musically, it is described as a fast-paced bubblegum pop-dance track that critics found "anthematic".[17][14]

Artwork and title

British photographer Haris Nukem shot the artwork for the album. In an interview with the French magazine, Numéro, Minogue noted that Nukem had based the photo on a sketch he drew, and he came up with the idea of her holding a diamond, saying to her, "I don't know why, but I see you holding this diamond." At that point, Minogue and her team were still unsure about the album's title. According to her, they considered the title "Vegas High" since it is one of the songs on the album and alluded to her More Than Just a Residency Las Vegas-based 2023–24 concert residency. However, she later decided to name the album, Tension, "I hope this doesn't sound depressing - when you watch the news, the word is used in a negative way - but actually, once we decided That, I was really surprised that this title was well accepted. People were very impatient to listen to an album called Tension". Despite not having the final title when the artwork was shot, according to Minogue, at the end, the diamond corresponded to the title, "The diamond is a subliminal image: that of the creation of beautiful things under pressure. I think people could feel it through the cover, especially if they know how diamonds are made, that is to say, under the constraint."[22]

Release and formats

Tension will be released on September 22, 2023.[23][24] It will be her sixteenth musical effort, as well as her third with BMG Rights Management and her third directly through her company, Darenote—directly after her previous releases Golden (2018) and Disco (2020).[25][3] The standard album will have 11 tracks totalling more than 35 minutes in length. The deluxe edition will be over 45 minutes long and will include three additional songs: "Love Train", "Just Imagine", and "Somebody to Love".[26]

Minogue will release a variety of physical formats to promote the album's release via her web-store and various retailer outlets.[27] Early bundle releases included a signed autograph from Minogue, as well as variants of different copies. The standard edition will include a card-slip case and a casebound book, while the deluxe edition will include two variants of the latter. The standard edition with card-slip packaging includes alternate artwork in a variety of colours.

Seven large vinyl variants will also be released: a standard black vinyl, a silver vinyl with gatefold packaging, and four different coloured slipcase vinyls: transparent orange, transparent pink, transparent green, and coke bottle clear vinyl.[28][29] Each coloured vinyl will also have an alternate cover art that corresponds to its colour. A white test pressing vinyl, limited to fifty copies, was exclusive to her store with her autograph on the cover.[30]

Four cassette tapes will be released: an orange tape, a green tape, a blue tape, and a pink tape. The cassettes can also be purchased separately or as part of a bundle exclusive to Minogue's website.[31] Tension will also be available on digital platforms and streaming services, both standard and deluxe editions.[23][24]

Promotion

Singles

Dutch DJ and electronic music producer Oliver Heldens (pictured) appeared on Kylie Minogue's album track "10 Out of 10".

Three singles have been released from Tension: "10 Out of 10", "Padam Padam", and its titular track. Prior to the album's announcement, Minogue collaborated with Dutch DJ and producer Oliver Heldens to release "10 out of 10" as a promotional single. On 3 April 2023, the song was released by Heldens' label RCA Records and was eventually placed as the tenth track on Minogue's album.[32] Days later, a lyric video debuted on Helen's YouTube channel.[33] Despite no promotional appearances by Minogue, Heldens has played the song on various shows. It peaked at number 19 on the UK Singles Download Chart.[34]

On 18 May 2023, "Padam Padam" was released as the album's lead single, Minogue's first solo release since "Real Groove" in 2021.[35] "Padam Padam" received critical acclaim for its catchiness and production standards, often noted by critics as a contender for song of the summer.[36] The song was a commercial breakthrough for Minogue,[37] reaching the top ten in countries such as Israel, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, South Africa, Bulgaria, Latvia, and component charts in the United States. It was also certified in Minogue's native Australia and the United Kingdom.[38] "Padam Padam" has become a viral phenomenon on various social media platforms since its release, and its consistent appearance during pride month worldwide has been recognised as a gay anthem.[39][40] including the NYC Pride March,[41] A music video was directed by Sophie Muller, which was aesthetically inspired by the works of The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) and elements of Americana culture.[42][43]

"Tension", the album's title track, was released as the second single.[44] It was released on August 31, 2023, in a variety of formats, including CD variants, digital streaming, and a cassette. The track received positive feedback for its dance-oriented sound, with critics praising Minogue's sonic experimentation. Commercially, it has charted in fewer countries, including Minogue's native Australia and the United Kingdom, and it has also reached the top ten in New Zealand.[45] Muller also directed the accompanying music video, which featured Minogue as various characters in a neon-futuristic inspired set.[46][47]

Live appearances

Minogue has made several live appearances to promote the album. Minogue made her first appearance on American Idol in May 2023, performing "Padam Padam" and "Can't Get You Out of My Head."[48] The following month, she surprised everyone by performing the same songs at Capital's Summertime Ball.[49] She appeared at the iHeartMedia KTUphoria 2023 live show, where she performed a nine-track set that included "Padam Padam".[50]

She also appeared on two shows hosted by American personality Andy Cohen: Sirius XM radio show, and Cohen's Watch What Happens Live! Show, where she discussed the track's success.[51][52] She also performed "Padam Padam" twice at the Horse Meat Disco event due to technical difficulties with the first performance.[53]

Minogue performed at the Radio 2 Live show in Victoria Park, Leicester, a week before the album's release, including "Padam Padam", "Tension", and album track "Hold On To Now" on her set list.[54] Kylie appeared at Lio London for the 2023 London Fashion Week launch, where she premiered some album tracks, including performances of "Padam Padam" and "Tension".[55] Minogue will also host a Kylie Pop-up Store in London, between the dates of 22 September and 24 September.[56] A television concert special, An Audience with Kylie to be filmed at the Royal Albert Hall, is set to air on ITV later in December 2023, which will features songs from Tension.[57]

Concert tour

On 26 July 2023, Minogue announced that she would embark on her first concert residency in Las Vegas, titled More Than Just a Residency. The announcement came after speculation about Minogue's involvement of a concert residency, briefly mentioning it on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.[58] She shared a sneak peek of the concert title, dates, and a snippet of the album track "Vegas High" on social media.[59] In a press release for the show, Minogue stated that the residency has been in the works for three years, promising new arrangements of her music catalog, and tracks featured on Tension. She was quote;

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I want it to be the kind of essence of what a Kylie show has become, enough glamour and abandon. I’ve got some versions of songs that have not been heard, like reinterpretations of songs, which is exciting. Live bed dances, amazing costumes. That’s the base and then we’ll see what surprises we can come up with

— Minogue on the premise of the show.[60]

The residency will take place at the The Venetian Las Vegas on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada from 3 November 2023 to 4 May 2024. Tickets went on sale commercially in early-mid August 2023, and they were met with an overwhelming demand, selling out within hours.[61][62]

Critical reception

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Prior to its release, Tension received positive reviews from music critics. John Earls from Classic Pop gave the album five stars, writing that Minogue "can still get everyone's heart beating, thanks to an album that's light years ahead of the competition (and her best since Light Years, too)". Earls further added that Tension is "built on confidence" and is an "object lesson in truly memorable pop".[63] Otis Robinson of DIY also gave it five stars, saying "there's enough originality pumped throughout each track that Tension will undoubtedly stand as one of the most favoured contemporary Kylie eras."[18]

Vera Maksymiuk from Riff Magazine gave Tension an 8 out of 10, praising its sound as "both futuristic in its approach and nostalgic," finishing the review by stating, "There’s no deep story on Tension, but the album doesn’t suffer for it. It’s purely joyous and alluring."[14] Retropop Magazine awarded the album four stars, with particular commendations toward its sonic diversity. The reviewer highlights Tension among Minogue's best vocal work, adding that "as a whole, Tension is a great pop record and a testament to Kylie’s continued relevance and indisputable legacy as one of greatest pop stars of all time."[64]

Alexa Camp of Slant Magazine gave the album three-and-a-half stars. Although Camp praised the album's various sounds and highlighted tracks such as "Hands", "Green Light" and the title track, she felt Minogue was playing it safe with the record, referring to it as "another Kylie Minogue album."[17]

Impact

Tension was listed as a highly anticipated album for 2023.[65][66][67][68]

Furthermore, the album's main singles "Padam Padam" and "Tension" have received widespread praise from music critics, who many hailed the former track as contenders for song of the summer of 2023.[69][70] Both tracks have gone viral on various social media platforms and have been subjected to meme culture.[71] Furthermore, both songs have been hailed as gay anthems; the former received recognition due to its release prior to pride month, whereas the latter benefited from the success of "Padam Padam" and its success of going viral.[72][73][74]

Since the release of "Padam Padam", music journalists and publications have noted a commercial resurgence for Minogue. The term "Padam-ic" was coined by Laura Snapes of The Guardian to encapsulate the cultural impact of "Padam Padam", describing it as the "cultural moment in which frivolity and lightness seem to be breezing back after the pandemic and after an era in which culture has been taken very seriously".[75] Critics have observed that it is a rare occurrence for a middle-aged artist to have achieved a mediatic impact in the last decades.[76][77][78][79] In an interview for Variety, James Masterton, a chart analyst, and historian says the success of the single is significant because Minogue has "bridged a generation gap with a hit record that is reaching out both to her loyal (and ageing) acolytes but also a new generation of music fans", the latter attracted thanks to the TikTok platform that "contributed to the explosion of Kylie's single; [...] bypassing all traditional media avenues".[80]

Track listing

Tension standard edition[1]
No. Title Producer(s) Length
1. "Padam Padam"   Lostboy 2:46
2. "Hold On to Now"     3:57
3. "Things We Do for Love"     3:09
4. "Tension"  
  • Stannard
  • Blackwell
 3:36
5. "One More Time"     3:02
6. "You Still Get Me High"     3:38
7. "Hands"     2:45
8. "Green Light"     3:19
9. "Vegas High"     3:33
10. "10 Out of 10" (with Oliver Heldens)
  • Heldens
  • Foote
 2:51
11. "Story"     3:16
Total length:
 35:51
Tension deluxe edition bonus tracks[81]
No. Title Producer(s) Length
12. "Love Train"     2:55
13. "Just Imagine"     2:36
14. "Somebody to Love"     3:52
Total length:
 45:14

Release history

Tension release history
Region Date Format Editions Label Ref.
Various 22 September 2023
Standard
[82]
  • CD
  • digital download
  • streaming
 Deluxe

References

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