Los Angeles outfit Male Tears, now a four-piece with James Edward at the helm, has evolved beyond their dark wave roots by weaving the dance beats of 80s synth-pop Italo disco into their sound. Their fourth album in three years looms imminently on the horizon, and this Southern California electronic-pop act is upping the ante. While Krypt was soaked in gothic gloom and eerie intensity, the new album Paradisco flips the script. It’s a lively mix of genres and rhythms reminiscent of NYC’s Danceteria in 1984, embracing a brighter, more dynamic energy reminiscent of later New Order, Exposé, and Nu Shooz.
Beneath the catchy tunes lies a stark contrast, however, a story of hidden truths and underlying sorrow that cuts through the cheerful melody like a knife. This Party Ends in Tears tells the tale of a relationship gone sour, tangled in emotional disconnect and denial. The speaker wrestles with their own feelings and misses the cues from their partner, setting the stage for the inevitable heartbreak. The party is a metaphor for their time together, a fleeting affair that wraps up in tears and parting. In the end, they realize the harsh truth: their union was flawed from the start, and they walk away, each to their own lonely path.
The self-directed video drops Male Tears into the technicolor swirl of 1987. It’s a landscape of fun graphics and bright colours, a nod to both TRON, Trapper Keepers, and those long-ago mid-afternoon cable ads for DeVry University. The band navigates this vivid, retro world with a blend of irony and nostalgia, capturing the era’s essence with a wink and a grin.
Watch the video for “This Party Ends in Tears” Featuring Digital Love, below:
Paradisco features eight new tracks that delve deep into the realms of Italo disco, hi-NRG, and freestyle. This new album marks a departure from the darker tones Male Tears has explored over the past three years. With their quest for darkness now behind them, the band invites listeners to dress up and embrace the lighter side of life, encouraging a break from self-pity and urging them to cut away the unnecessary and stagnant.
The album is available in a variety of limited editions via Avant! Records, with only 250 copies each of light blue vinyl, yellow vinyl, and digipak CDs, along with a digital version. Fans can look forward to the release on July 12th.
You can listen to This Party Ends In Tears below and pre-order Paradisco here:
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