Review: Perfume Genius - Too Bright

Perfume Genius rose to popularity on the back of beautifully hushed melodies and intimate personal confessions. However his third record, Too Bright, resets the bar. Mike Hadreas’ last two records as Perfume Genius, Learning and Put Your Back N 2 It, were sparse and stripped back. They largely succeeded by laying bare the integrity and intensity of Hadreas’ lyrics, which focused on his experiences with his sexuality and a wider exploration of gay culture. For this reason it would be a mistake to say that until now Hadreas has taken the safe road. But Too Bright is bold in an entirely different way – it remains raw and honest, whilst also taking a large sonic step up. Lead single ‘Queen’, for example, is a 70s glam stomper that evokes T-Rex, while ‘Fool’ could in parts be mistaken for a lost cut from Simply Red...

Click here to read Nick Miller's full review of Too Bright by Perfume Genius