Realms

Album review

At 66 years old and after nearly a half-century in the B-52's, Cindy Wilson is releasing only her second solo album; anyone expecting a holler and whoop will likely be surprised. This is dance music, for sure, but not the camp of "Rock Lobster" or "Love Shack." And after years of being known for her retro style, it's sort of thrilling to hear Wilson sound not only contemporary but even futuristic. Catchy opener "Midnight" kicks into high gear immediately, with vibrating beats, disco bloops and beeps and an occasional hiccuping chirp from Wilson. "Overboard" is spacey synth-pop techno with the singer cast as the chilled-out diva. "Daydreamer" balances an industrial undercurrent and glossy ice-queen vibes. Throughout, producer Suny Lyons thickly layers Wilson's vocals but nothing is too heavy—it's more like all those layers are pierced to let in light. There's a cool vocal echo effect in play on "Within," along with crisp drum beats and burbling synth that gives the song an anime soundtrack vibe. "Blossom," meanwhile, brings to mind 8-bit video game music (crisply plinking synth, a jogging beat, swooning vocals—there's a lot going on). "Delirious" takes off at full gallop, busy and hectic but with a glassy new-wave sophistication à la Berlin. Constantly jangling "Wait" adopts a kinetic beat and doo-wop shoops, and it's something you can imagine Gwen Stefani retiring into; it also lets Wilson show off a feather-light touch that would have disappeared in her old band. The same goes for gauzy "Hold On," which brings to mind a lazily spinning disco ball, and the Julee Cruise-like dream pop of "Not Goodbye." Cosmic thing, indeed. © Shelly Ridenour/Qobuz