Jake Shears releases new album
Image: Jake Shears. Image: Damon Baker
Jake Shears’ brilliant new album Last Man Dancing was released on Friday, 2nd June on Mute. The project features two highly acclaimed recent singles ‘Too Much Music’ and ‘I Used To be In Love’, as well as a collaboration with Australian singer Kylie Minogue.
In his own words, Shears describes Last Man Dancing as “a journey through the ultimate house party”, incorporating both sing-along moments and deeper, darker pieces.
In many ways, it feels like the album Shears was born to make, demonstrating his lifelong love affair with club culture, while also adopting the sound of a spiritual homecoming with ‘Voices’, his highly anticipated creative reunion with Kylie Minogue.
The album’s songs vary from the disco groove of ‘Too Much Music’ to the funk workout ‘Do The Television’, which Shears says “is about language and the loss of meaning, changing symbols and forgotten history.”
The album reaches its crescendo with what Shears refers to as ‘The Suite’, an instrumental-led mix including ‘Mess Of Me’, ‘Doses’ and ‘Radio Eyes’. Featuring the voices of Big Freedia, Iggy Pop, Jane Fonda and Amber Martin, it sees the album reach almost dystopian depths, before it finally closes with the cinematic track ‘Diamonds Don’t Burn’.
When discussing the inspiration behind Last Man Dancing, Shears said “It’s inspired by all the over-the-top house parties I’ve thrown throughout my life. I was born to host, I love to DJ and my favourite hours of a party are from 4-6am. There’s nothing more luxurious than being as loud as you want in the early hours.”
“Not everyone might make it to the end, but the last ones dancing are possibly rewarded with the most magical moments of the evening.”
