In their latest sordid sonic soiree, “Sex On Drugs,” the Los Angeles darkwave outfit Male Tears whisks us away on a wild ride through the neon-lit streets of their brand-new sound. Merging their trademark shadowy allure with the heart-thumping rhythms of New Romantic melancholy, the electric pulse of EBM, and the space-age glow of Hi NRG and Synth Pop, this track further cements Male Tears as darlings of the modern dark disco.
At the helm of this intoxicating mix is James Edward, the visionary force of Male Tears, who not only penned “Sex On Drugs” but took the reins on production and recording duties, resulting in one of the band’s most dancefloor-friendly jams yet. The track is further elevated by the vocal prowess of Ryan Flint and Caitlin Stokes from Corlyx, alongside DJ Azy, together building an impregnable fortress of beat and melody.
Echoing the synthy vibes of New Order’s “Low-Life” era with a nod to the anthemic “It’s A Sin” by Pet Shop Boys, “Sex On Drugs” delves deep into the tumultuous quest for love and connection in the shadow of substance use. With ghostly choral whispers and dramatic orchestral stabs, the song paints a vivid picture of the struggle between the yearning for genuine bonds and the emptiness that drives one to seek solace in the ephemeral highs of drugs. It’s a witty yet poignant exploration of the highs and lows of chasing intimacy through altered states, laying bare the raw vulnerability and destructive patterns that often lurk beneath the surface.
Go on. Open up that box of Whitman’s Sampler this Valentine’s Day; that decadent sugar rush will be the perfect companion for dancing to this.
Listen to “Sex on Drugs” below, and grab it on Bandcamp here, or on find it Spotify here:
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