SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MYSTERY ROMANCE – ELECTRIC LOVE

MYSTERY ROMANCE
ELECTRIC LOVE
CURRENT RECORDS

Mystery Romance released their debut album, Human Sexuality, in 1989 and did extremely well with that album. Since then, the band has split and reformed, with the core of the band being the duo Mike Scullion on keys and drums and Rhys Green on bass. Although they have a long history, the band is far from being a retro act. Their new album, Electric Love, is proof of that. The duo have moved from being a pop band to incorporating rhythm and blues and funk into their music. They are masters at crafting pop songs as well. For this album, the duo work with a variety of people on the songs, which means the album is full of diverse and intriguing sounds and melodies.

The album opens with the title track “Electric Love,” which features Mar Go on lead vocals. The song is a definite r&b groove that entices the listener instantly. From the wonderful intro until the song ends, it embraces the listener and is an excellent way to introduce the album. She has a great voice. This is followed by the more electronic pop song “Human Sexuality”. Which brings the listener back to smooth R&B with the slow groove of “Thing For You.” This is a new sound for the duo, and they do it extremely well. The rest of the album follows suit, drifting from pop into different corners of the musical world Mystery Romance creates.

The album excels when it comes to the production. This is top-of-the-line letter production. The instruments are sharp, yet create a warmth, and the vocal arrangements are tasteful and fit the music perfectly. The closing track, “What’s Going On” is not a cover, but a strong slice of pop perfection. Everything falls into place. It is instantly accessible with a hint of 1980s sound, but it is only a slight hint. This is, as stated, not retro. However, the duo has listened and learned from past masters in order to create its own distinct sound/music.

Electric Love is a great pop/R&B album. Mystery Romance has come up with something very different from their last release, 2023’s wonderful Flying Thru The Moon. Listeners will be surprised when hitting the play button just how far Scullion and Green have come. And the fact that Scullion’s son, Caiden, plays guitar on some of the tracks makes the album even more lovely. Lyrically, it is a collection of love songs, and as Paul McCartney would sing, ‘what’s wrong with that?’ Electric Love is a great album that gets one moving and at the same time it is a perfect oasis from the rest of the world’s ongoing problems. My advice, switch off the news and newsfeeds, and tune into Mystery Romance, and sail/groove away.

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