Legendary Pink Dots

If last year we ended on a high note with the welcome return of The Wolfgang Press, this year we’ve started with another pleasant surprise: the new album by the Anglo-Dutch band Legendary Pink Dots, a group I had long thought extinct. It’s difficult to summarize their career, which began in 1980—perhaps even they don’t know exactly how many albums they’ve released. Legend has it the number is close to a hundred, including studio works, compilations, live recordings, and collaborations. Even harder is categorizing their musical style, which spans from psychedelia to ambient, touches on electronic sounds, grazes folk, and hints at industrial. The one certainty about the eccentric Edward Ka-Spel and company is their undeniable creative genius, which time has failed to erode.

"So Lonely In Heaven" is an album that demands attention. It’s not an easy listen due to the discontinuity between tracks, a signature trait of the Legendary Pink Dots. At times, it even feels more like a collection rather than a cohesive album. The opening title track is a striking revelation that leaves no room for escape: liquid guitars and a captivating melody immediately make it clear that their class remains intact. The album continues with electronic effects in the foreground and celebratory bells, while a pleasant chorus defines "Dr. Bliss '25", featuring a distant guitar and piano notes that dissolve into the sound of lapping water. But the Legendary Pink Dots tradition is soon honored with "Sleight Of Hand", a track shrouded in a dark and oppressive atmosphere, complete with trumpet and acoustic arpeggios, while "Darkest Knight" is driven by a drum machine with eerie voices lurking in the background.

The album’s central portion, while maintaining good quality, shows some uncertainty—it feels as if the band isn’t quite sure where they want to go. But just when the path seems lost, the unmistakable voice of the ageless young man (seventy-one years old) Edward Sharp, better known as Edward Ka-Spel, brings everything back on track with "Blood Money: Transitional", a highly enjoyable track with a surprising finale, accompanied by a beautiful music video. The momentum continues with "Pass The Accident". Of course, the album's conclusion wouldn’t be complete without a stroke of genius: with a sudden instrumental shift, everything is turned upside down—a double bass sets the rhythm in a smoky piano bar scene, its location unknown.

Once again, the Legendary Pink Dots have missed the chance to release the masterpiece they’ve been chasing for forty-five years—a masterpiece that will probably never see the light of day. But we should be grateful to have yet another opportunity to enjoy a solid album. And in times like these, that’s no small thing. Edward’s carousel is about to start—hurry up and hop on, you won’t regret it.

06/03/2025