Kylie – Tension (Limited Edition in Silver Vinyl)

Still in Shrink. Limited Edition on Silver Vinyl.

Going two-for-two with early-2020s knockouts, global dancefloor queen Kylie Minogue moves the party from the shiny mirrorball disco to the sweaty, neon-lit club on flawless Tension. Breaking that titular seal, this set is custom-made for living in the moment and embracing cathartic release, providing 11 laser-focused opportunities for sheer exhilaration. Taking additional cues from Fever and Aphrodite, Tension focuses on the light and happiness found through dance, proving once again that Minogue is peerless when it comes to unassuming crowd-pleasers, heard most explicitly on the surprise 2023 hit “Padam Padam.” Carried by her catchiest chorus in decades, the unstoppable earworm pops through woozy production as a hypnotic groove throbs beneath the surface. She purrs that “I’ll be in your head all weekend,” and that’s only partially true: like her defining 2001 single, listeners won’t soon be able to get “Padam Padam” out of their heads. From there, Tension doesn’t relent. The encouraging uplift of “Hold On to Now” sparkles like “All the Lovers,” building to a joyous chorus atop intergalactic synths and subtle New Order-esque guitar noodling. The funky, bass-laden “One More Time,” the playful Doja Cat-meets-Dua Lipa “Hands,” and the saxophone-infused “Green Light” keep a platformed heel on the Disco dancefloor, as ’80s-inspired bops like “Things We Do for Love” and the unfolding “You Still Get Me High” shift gears to hyperspeed with urgent singalong choruses, decade-appropriate synths, and dramatic sax breaks. On-trend, Tension lands in the ’90s, updating that familiar house sound for the 2020s on the sensual title track (with another chorus for the ages) and the ballroom-ready “10 Out of 10” produced by Oliver Heldens. Even the heartwarming closer “Story” maintains the energy without sacrificing emotion, a swelling love letter to herself and her loyal fans that pushes Minogue’s voice to joyous new heights. Much like Disco, Tension is a master class in pop wizardry and escapist bliss. Releasing an album this expertly crafted and stunning in her fifth decade in the business is an absolute wonder to behold.