The sweet perfume of the rebirth wafts through, like the faint aroma of freshly baked croissants on a Sunday morning, as Stars in Coma’s “Aluminum” single alights as softly as a spring shower on our arid souls. André Brorsson is the brain behind this bedroom pop project, casting sonic spells since 2005, and this latest offering certainly doesn’t disappoint.
The music in itself is a glam indulgence of indie pop, J-pop, synth pop, and glam rock stitched together in an eloquent patchwork quilt with great love and care. The melodies are catchy, the beats infectious, and the musical details intricate, playful. But it’s really the themes and messages that set “Aluminum” ablaze. Brorsson is on a mission of getting rid of old conceptions, being reborn into new beginnings, while pleading for spiritual cohesion in a world torn apart by polarization in society.
I couldn’t help but think about the Japanese concept of “yūgen,” that profound and mysterious sense of the beauty of the world, while listening to “Aluminum”. It is as if Brorsson has accessed this essence and condensed it into a sonic elixir that is deeply personal yet universally relatable. Here, the DIY ethos of the project shines through, like a beacon of hope in a world dominated by glossy, soulless productions.
So, what does this all mean, then? Perhaps it is a call to arms, the rallying point to help people knit together in their differences and find something in common with each other. Maybe it is just a beautiful, quirky pop song that simply makes us feel good. Either way, “Aluminum” is a triumph, testimony to how music heals, touches, and draws us closer into community. As the great philosopher Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” -don’t miss this one.
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