Australian band Pnau have released their fifth album, and it’s an eclectic journey of an LP! Five years in the making, Changa boasts an uplifting dancefloor aura to it, with band member Nick Littlemore (1/2 of Empire of the Sun) describing it as “our last hurrah to the dance floor”.
This disco-centric yet genre-blending album has a ton of surprises around each corner, which’ll leave you feeling raved up after the full experience. Each song has its own way of showcasing a taste of what pop music can be, whether it’s felt as a more homely vibe, or something that’s dance- and synth-focused, like many of the tracks played out in today’s modern club scene.
Within the first few songs, you’ll hear the captivating voice of NY-based Kira Divine, who adds an extra burst of sunshine to each piece that she’s featured in. This especially rings true for the triple-Platinum certified hit of the summer, ‘Chameleon’; her South American-influenced vocals can turn any gloomy day into a wonderful period of bright times, especially with the playful gleam in her voice. The music video (below) does a stellar job of shining light on the colourful nature of the song as well.
The album then brings forth an indie-electro flair about midway through. ‘In My Head’ sports the classic “dancing-by-yourself-in-your-room” vibe – carefree and uplifting, as it leaves you surrounded by nothing but your own thoughts and headspace. Maintaining an elevated level, the following track ‘Into The Sky’ drifts through with a hint of a distorted grungy feel, with Nick singing to the heavens on the chorus.
Not too long after though, the dramatic piano tones of ‘Please Forgive Me’ feel like an immediate grounding back to reality, especially in the intro, yet they go so well with the pleas for forgiveness in the song’s chorus.
As the end of the album draws near, the trip starts taking a much more intergalactic turn. Generally, it’s this segment of tracks that also stands out more as dancefloor-ready, bringing a higher sense of energy and rhythm with them that compels one to get up and move. Starting off this cosmic journey with the already-released single ‘Young Melody’, Sydney’s own Vera Blue makes you feel like you can take on anything in your path, thanks to her empowering lyrics heard throughout. Tied in with the song’s grandiose, mystical vibe embedded into the overall production, you can’t help but feel like you’re taking off to another realm as you sing along to its repetitively catchy lyrics.
Imagine the tale in ‘La Grenouille’ being narrated by a robotic frog – which shouldn’t be too hard, thanks to the warped lyrics made to sound extremely croaky – as she embarks on her spiritual expedition through a forest, a desert, and finally, the ocean. The album closes off with a trip back in time, with the 2014 anthem ‘Changes’, brought to life by Faul & Wad – which in itself serves as a remake to Pnau’s original 2007 tune, ‘Baby‘.
Dive into Changa, and let Pnau take you to places and soundscapes you didn’t think were conceivable; also check out the lively music video to ‘Chameleon’, and further immerse yourself in the beautiful cacophony of life, touched upon by the album’s overall magic.
