Well, it’s official: The Veronicas are back in a completely non-disappointing way.
It’s been a minute (FOUR YEARS OF MINUTES, TO BE EXACT) since we last heard from the stunning Aussie synth-pop heartbreakers. Tomorrow, the girls will premiere their Toby Gad-produced comeback, “Lolita”–and it’s massive.
How is it, generally speaking? It’s a very natural progression from the solid, forward-thinking dark electro-pop of their 2007 record Hook Me Up. It’s like a dark Ke$ha stormer–sans vomit and glitter, plus violently obsessive tendencies.
The Beginning: It sounds exactly like Ellie Goulding‘s “Lights,” until someone takes a razor-sharp synth line and shreds the sparkly electronica verses into a punchy, rave-pop anthem.
The Chorus: …It’s fucking M-A-J-O-R. Big stuff. “I’m your Lolita/La Femme Nikita/When we’re together, you’ll love me forever!” In true Veronicas tradition, it’s a yelp-at-the-top-of-your-lungs, cling-to-whatever’s-close-to-you sort of affair. They clearly haven’t lost their ability to carve a killer hook.
The Post-Chorus: Nothing better underscores the fact that it’s truly The Year of 2012 like a big, fat synth-y beat breakdown following a chorus! It’s a little ‘of-the-moment,’ but it doesn’t really feel like the Veronicas are pulling out their “Starships”-shaped cookie cutters either. It just feels like an extension of their first forays into synth-pop.
Fashionable Dubstep Breakdown: Yes, there is one of those.
Choice line: “You’re making a comeback, I’m taking your crown.” How very apropos.
“Lolita” will be released on July 27. (iTunes)