Review: ABBA - Don't Shut Me Down
Two days and two ABBA reviews. Both A-Sides from ABBA's latest release are absolute gold. Compared to the more emotional I Still Have Faith in You, Don't Shut Me Down is much more traditional, bouncing around with its 80s tune.
Don't Shut Me Down opens with a gorgeous thirty-second Acapella segment. Each vocal hook here is golden, dreamy, and with a sense of traction. Then, a keyboard slide occurs, and we get a classic '80s beat, not too different from classic ABBA singles. It is upbeat, fun, and danceable. It lacks the sense of the drama of the opening, but it is certain head-bopping fun.
Once again, productional flourishes come to the rescue. Harp synths and subtle strings create an oriental atmosphere for the song to build its hooks on top of. However, one cannot help but feel disappointed once the chorus hits.
The central refrain initially lacks the impact one would expect from ABBA's classic choruses. It rather feels like a build. However, soon strings and choirs provide a strong atmosphere before we are dropped into a futuristic space-synth, with just enough galvanizing energy for one to continue.
However, here lies Don't Shut Me Down's trump card. These additional elements, minus the space synth, continue through the next verse, creating a sense of building euphoria. It all concludes in the central refrain's return, a strong moment to say the least.
The strings reach an incomparable crescendo, with them providing both a counter and support melody to the main tune. The echoing faded choir creates a sense of finality, leading to a sense of larger-than-life drama, with the synths also reappearing before it all fades out for a moment of reflection at the end of the track.
In the end, Don't Shut Me Down provides the return the lyrics promise, continuing I Still Have Faith in You's promise. It all works much better than expected and only increases my expectations for Voyage.
Comments
Post a Comment