Girl Ray has gotten progressively poppier during their three-album career – from their punkish indie-inspired 2017 debut, Earl Grey, to paying homage to R&B on Girl. Now, they’ve tapped into the growing disco revival on their third album, Prestige. The result is a vibrant, danceable collection of nine tracks that merge the group’s indie roots with their newfound pop sound. The album showcases Girl Ray’s ability to create catchy, hook-driven pop songs that are both timeless and modern.
Many disco critics missed the point of that music and culture the first and second time around. However, artists embracing the style today are more than willing to flaunt the genre’s 1970s roots and continued evolution throughout the last several decades. This includes the 80s electric funk and Minneapolis sounds to the queer ballroom scene and the continued popularity of dance clubs. At the end of the night, disco is sexuality and rebellion against social norms.
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Prestige’s strongest songs are bouncy dance tracks about nothing more than finding love and getting down. The lead single ‘Everybody’s Saying That’ sets the tone for the album. The groove is infectious, as is the playful 80s Brit-pop sound of ‘Hold Tight.’
The sparkling sounds of ‘True Love’ enter with a blissful impact, and it’s almost impossible not to be enchanted by the song’s unbounded elation. There is a very similar sonic palette between ‘True Love’ and ‘Up’. Although the song is memorable and creative, the mid-section is especially compelling due to Poppy Hankins’ soft vocals and the pace slowing.
Several tracks feel lackluster, like ‘Love Is Enough’, ‘Begging You Now’ and ‘Easy’, all of which maintain an average-paced tempo that quickly becomes tedious. Fortunately, those tracks are forgiven within the first notes of the uber-sexy ‘Wanna Dance.’ The disco-inspired basslines remain strong in the background of this song, but it has a more soulful feel.
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The closing track, “Give Me Your Love,” comes in nearly eight minutes and shows off Girl Ray’s talents with a pounding synth beat and house-ready keys more reminiscent of the 1980s instead of remaining grounded in the 1970s.
Overall, Prestige is a lavish album by a talented band that’s learned to be playful and, more importantly, sexy.
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