Ice on the Dune by Empire of the Sun

Welcome back! Today, we’ll dive into an electropop album entitled Ice on the Dune, by Empire of the Sun.

Lux: This song is the perfect example of how to create an ear-catching introduction to an album. It’s completely instrumental, and presents an orchestral display of grandiose suspense.

DNA: A song that displays vivid descriptions about the innocence of falling in love through its lyrics, and features a nice blend of guitar and synths that becomes commonplace throughout the entire album.

Alive: A feel-good song about how this relationship makes the man feel alive with every moment they spend together.

Concert Pitch: Another love song with simpler lyrics, but an innocent charm that ultimately makes the song endearing to listen to.

Ice on the Dune: The title track of the album, about the man running away with the love of his life. These lyrics give a strong sense of adventure and make the track thrilling to hear.

Awakening: This song is slower than the previous four songs, but still retains their similar instrumentation. The lyrics are about the couple discovering sides of each other they never knew as they experience the titular awakening.

I’ll Be Around: While songs 2-5 have a very similar sound, this song strongly differs from the aforementioned tracks due to its much slower sound and relaxing atmosphere. By far the most memorable part of the song is the beginning guitar riff that makes it my personal favorite.

Old Flavours: The atmosphere sharply transitions from a mellow track to a fast-paced dance song. The song only has one verse that starts halfway through the song and repeats itself. While it is slightly drowned out by the rhythm, it seems to be about a spectacular experience.

Celebrate: Returning to the album’s familiar sound, the song’s lyrics detail the celebration of love. While the lyrics aren’t as grand and a bit distorted during the verses, the beat is catchy enough to make the song worthwhile.

Surround Sound: Some lyrics are a bit hard to decipher due to the distorted vocals, but they discuss how this couple’s love will transcend the ocean, the sun, and even other dimensions. These lyrics of epic proportions show how intertwined they are.

Disarm: A song that expands upon the more formulaic sound of the album with anti-war lyrics about disarming the armies to end the fighting.

Keep a Watch: The final track is different from every other song, a David Bowie-inspired song about how the man will always watch over his significant other. While I don’t return to it often, I still enjoy it.

One potential con is the fact that many songs have an extremely similar sound. I have a soft spot for this specific sound myself, but it may irritate other listeners. The lyrical content of the songs is arguably the greatest strength, as the lyrics perfectly capture the whimsical feelings of falling in love. Personally, I rate the album a 9/10!