The third album from England's
Years & Years, 2022's sleek and hooky
Night Call, is singer
Olly Alexander's first production since the departure of founding members Mikey Goldsworthy and Emre Türkmen. Amiably citing creative differences that grew more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, the trio split in 2021, purportedly scrapping a finished album and paving the way for
Alexander to push forward on his own. The result is a diamond-sharp production rife with disco-hot bangers that evoke the classic work of artists like
Giorgio Moroder,
Michael Jackson, and
the Real McCoy. It's a frothy, throw-back aesthetic that fits perfectly with
Alexander's charismatic persona and highly resonant vocal style even as it is admittedly a stylistic shift away from the arty electronica that helped win the group a BBC Sound of 2015 award. While there's certainly a more direct pop quality to
Alexander's work here, the album is no less finely attuned than his past work. Helping him make this transition are a handful of like-minded writers and producers (several who've worked with
Years & Years before), including
Mark Ralph (Gracey,
Marina,
Clean Bandit),
Clarence Coffee, Jr. (Jesse Ware,
Dua Lipa,
BUNT.), and Swedish duo
Galantis, the latter of whom also guest on the uplifting house anthem "Sweet Talker." Other cuts like "Starstruck" and "Crave" are shimmering dancefloor shakers that bring to mind
Alexander's past collaborations with pop legends like
Kylie Minogue and
Pet Shop Boys. While
Night Call builds nicely upon
Years & Years' indie electronic roots, it primarily feels like a new beginning for
Alexander as he boldly embraces his pop future. ~ Matt Collar