Compact Disco have held their own. On the back of their MTV award in 2011, they sailed through the Hungarian pre-selection A Dal and won the right to represent their country at Eurovision in 2012. Although they didn’t completely win the hearts of our in-house panel, they qualified for the finals with their experimental sound. Later in the year, they released their critically acclaimed album Two Point Five to commercial success and played major festivals across the continent.
Now they’re back with a new single “Storm”. Although this song smacks of the 1980s, they’ve laced it with plenty of now. The result is more HURTS than Depeche Mode and completely original. This is no copycat band. One of the many things that Compact Disco do well is fusing rock, electronica, pop and synth to create a melange unique to them. The rousing chorus of “Storm” hints at stadium rock, but is so fizzy it could play in the most modern nightclub.
Once again the video demonstrates the band’s knack for translating its music to a visual platform. They blend literal and figurative so well. They mirror the rocky transition from childhood to adulthood with images of the band rocking it out in monsoon weather. It’s clever, yet relatable.
Unlike many Eurovision acts that struggle to make music that translates across borders, Compact Disco oozes international. Many fans have faith that the third album which is due for release later this year will propel them to greater heights. I strongly believe that too.
Rating: 3.5/5
Deban Aderemi contributed this report from the U.K. Follow him on Twitter @debanaderemi. Then follow Team Wiwi on Twitter @wiwibloggs and by liking our Facebook page.
Photo: Eurovision.tv (EBU)
