It would be a nigh on impossible claim to suggest that Duran Duran were underrated. But while they were without doubt one of the pop phenomena that defined the 80s and sold records by the truckload, and their hits are still played on TV and radio 9and sung on karaoke nights), the production of the albums doesn’t seem to get much recognition. Similarly, while history seems content to boil their career down to ‘Rio’ and ‘The Reflex’, they had some great album tracks, with ‘The Seventh Stranger’ perhaps being the best cut on ‘Seven and the Ragged Tiger’.
This enigmatic act, hailing from Portland, Maine, understand this. ‘Gimmicks’ is unquestionably and unashamedly a pop album. That doesn’t mean it’s Bros or One Direction. Crisp, concise and at times plain strange, the urban soul of ‘Elefanz (Cool Kids)’ pinned to a bumping groove. ‘Animalia’ is another of a number of animal-themed songs and shows they’ve got a knack for a slow-burning anthem, too. But they’re not afraid of doing downtempo or stripping the arrangements back to sparse, bare bones structures.
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Ironically, it’s practically devoid of gimmickery, and is instead very much about songrwriting and carefully crafted execution. The attention to the detail – the mix, the textures, and the space between the sounds – is very much apparent. Reflective lyrics and a nuanced delivery makes for an album that rewards the more attentive listener.
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