There are records I miss occasionally that I feel legitimately bad about. And in these cases, it’s not because of the whole “getting a jump on the review before anyone else” aspect but more that it pertains to an artist that’s, frankly, cool as hell and one that I’d like to promote the hell out of. Like Night Club. Who put out a new record LAST OCTOBER that I missed. And that’s what I get for not liking every artist over the socials that makes some sort of sonic impact in my world, I guess?
But I digress.
I initially got hooked on Night Club after a chance encounter at a Combichrist show in Boston. And by “chance encounter” I mean that it was one of those Old Goth curmudgeonly kinds of nights where I had bought tickets in advance for the show but on the day of didn’t initially want to get off my ass and trek out to Brighton Music Hall. But I eventually did and somehow managed to get there early enough to see Night Club’s banger of an opening set. Which led to a review of 2018’s Scary World (Read it here) and eventually led is to the here and now and our belated coverage of Die Die Lullaby which, if I’m being perfectly honest, might be their best one yet.
Infectious, sinister, and sexy, Die Die Lullaby is like Abba and Kylie Minogue getting their Goth on and collaborating with ohGr. It’s an album where every song demands attention. An album where every note demands attention. Die Die Lullaby just really demands your attention, okay? “Die in the Disco” is crazy good to start and a slammin’ reintroduction that I can’t wait to dance my ass off to when the local Goth night starts up again…hell, I might just play this tomorrow while I do dishes and dance my ass off then.
“Sad Boy” has that “Closer” pulse down pat then goes all quirky and crazy with the way that Emily Kavanaugh’s voice slithers around Mark Brooks’ synthetic world while “My Valentine” is a stand out among stand out’s with its’ Middle Eastern-tinged mystical flare as the electronic hum irradiates leading into a hearty chorus. “Miss Negativity” is an instant Gothic classic as is “Gossip” which is sultry and spooky before “Misery Go Round” gets all cabaret and kooky, opening up into this futuristic techno bounce.
“The Creepshow” is surprisingly somber and poignant but still manages to get its’, ahem, creep on while later, “California Killed Me” is a throbbing thumper which has some vocal nods to Scary World‘s sumptuous title track with the way that Kavanaugh plays with the vocal melodies. And then we arrive at an end. In the case of Die Die Lullaby, that takes the form of “Civil War” which is the harrowing ominous synth-driven closing number that plays at the end of an ’80’s slasher flick (Think a Strangers: Prey at Night vibe for modern era, Chopping Mall or any number of Nightmare On Elm Street films for classic era) where the bad guy gets away and audiences are left with POV shots of said antagonist as they lurk in the shadows searching out their next target in the inevitable sequel….or in Night Club’s case, the eventual fourth album in what’s sure to become a quadrilogy of macabre synthetic delights.
Die Die Lullaby is out now and can be yours instantly when you click here and streamed at your most favorite streaming places when you go here or here. For more on Night Club, follow them across their socials by heading here, here, or here.