Sunday, February 25, 2024

Autogramm - "Diana"


Well, this was a nice surprise! A mere three months after it released its fantastic new album Music That Humans Can Play, North America's top new wave band Autogramm is back with a new single on Beluga Records! With "Diana," the now-foursome leans heavily into early '80s synth-pop with a sound that strikes a perfect balance between dark and danceable. The thing that gets me about Autogramm time and time again is that these guys don't just nail the style of new wave pop. First and foremost, they write absolutely top-notch songs with irresistible melodies and legit radio hit hooks. Playing this kind of music is a tricky thing because you want it to feel like the era that inspired it, yet you need to elevate so that people will like the songs even if they have zero emotional attachment to the '80s. That has been Autogramm's greatest success. Of course "Diana" would not sound out of place at the club on an '80s night playlist. But it would also grab your attention if you heard it while standing in line at Chipotle. It's a total earworm and a stone-cold banger in any era. Imagine Vince Clarke–era Depeche Mode if they'd had guitars! On the B-side, "Licht Aus" is a mostly faithful cover of a 1982 single single by German new wavers Nichts. If you're going to be a new wave band in 2024, covering largely-unknown gems from the heyday is definitely the way to go. The odds are that at least one person reading this will do a deeper dive into Nichts, and that's tremendously exciting to me. Two non-album tracks from Autogramm so soon after an LP release is a real treat, and they do not disappoint. Hit up the Beluga web site if you want to order the vinyl. Those of you in Europe should check out Autogramm's socials for details on the band's tour happening next month!  

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