This is the band’s best lead single since the 1980s.
When Duran Duran’s debut album arrived in 1981, it was the unforgettable singles and eye-popping videos that hinted at the global success that was to soon come. However, buried on the back half of that album were some moody, darker pop songs that still sound modern today. From the haunting atmosphere of “Night Boat” to the biting “Friends Of Mine”, the band have always had artistic ambitions that have sometimes struggled to find their footing in popular culture. With the lead single “INVISIBLE” from their forthcoming album Future Past, Duran Duran have again found a way to weave their dark arts into a magical potion of classic pop.
The hint is in the title with Future Past no matter how you wish to read it and the band seems to like it that way. Their sense of humor remains the best “lost track” in their discography. For listeners who are still listening to Rio (boy do I have a book for you!), the industrial-funk of “INVISIBLE” might feel unsettling. That is the point! The band left their imperial phase behind sometime between the “Notorious” and “Skin Trade” singles being released. While they have occasionally returned to the commercial charts, the most interesting work has been outside the view of mainstream music fans. No worries, they still play most of the hits in concert so unsuspecting casual fans are none the wiser about what was happening in Medazzaland.
When Andy Taylor left after the short-lived reunion, the band began their likely final phase as a four-piece band happy to bring in guest guitarists knowing they had the gifted Dom Brown available whenever needed for touring. Graham Coxon already appears to be a divine choice based on the lead single. His fractured style of playing works perfectly on “INVISIBLE”, a track that was clearly built from the rhythm section up.
Another wise addition to the team is Erol Alkan who creates a stimulating palette of sound across the entire spectrum on this track. If you listen to the track on headphones, the synths pan around you to create a dizzying effect. His work with Ride on Weather Diaries was a masterclass in a producer helping to bring a band forward without them losing their distinct sound. It wouldn’t surprise me if Ride’s “Integration Tape” was mentioned a few times between Alkan and Nick Rhodes while in the studio.
As the world slowly starts to emerge from a global endemic, this is not the time for huge anthems and celebration. It is a time for reflection on the physical and mental toll of the last year. With “INVISIBLE”, Simon LeBon’s lyrics seem to touch on this on a micro and macro level. The song probably works best lyrically when read as someone within a fractured relationship but it also works as a reflection on where we are as a society. Anyone who has dealt with depression on any level, knows that even when things are wonderful, we can feel invisible. The last year has only increased that anxiety so “INVISIBLE” feels like an anthem in it’s own dark way for some of us.
It’s hard to gauge the hype for the latest Duran Duran song while in the middle of the fan storm but if any label will create a buzz, BMG has proven to be strong in that regard (see: Kylie Minogue’s Disco). They know how to package an artist and work a release commercially. The choice of colored variants on wax is growing by the hour and partnering with the reputable Townsend Music is a win for fans. You can check out the many bundles here. It will undoubtedly sell better than Paper Gods as the marketing seems to be lightyears ahead of the last album. Once the core fans have it, the sales numbers become a matter of how far the label can penetrate the “oh Duran Duran is still around” market. And it should sell better because it IS better!
Whenever Duran Duran has played it safe, they have been far less interesting. “INVISIBLE” sounds like a band still experimenting with what they can do as musicians and that is exciting for both them and the listener. “INVISIBLE” is the best lead single Duran Duran has put out since the 1980s because it’s not only a fantastic track, it shows artistic ambition that doesn’t try to cater to expectations. The only post-80s lead single that has the same unexpected edginess would be “Electric Barbarella” but that album seemed to wither in the hands of a disinterested record label.
While “Ordinary World” will be the last global hit, it wasn’t nearly as interesting as this track. The band nailed the Rio Redux attempt on All You Need Is Now and created a modern version of themselves from 1982 but again, it wasn’t breaking new ground like “INVISIBLE” does. With Paper Gods, the band played it safe with “Pressure Off” which was a fine Nile Rodgers-styled Duran track but it was a predictable lead single. They openly chased commercial success by partnering with Justin Timberlake on “Falling Down” but the single was so dreary that it took me a few years to realize how much I enjoy Red Carpet Massacre.
For fans hoping that “INVISIBLE” would be closer to a “(Reach Up For The) Sunrise”, I wouldn’t worry. The band has always found a way to balance their anthemic dance rock with the more esoteric tracks from album to album. By the time the album arrives in October, the world will probably be in a different state of mind and ready to head to the disco. With more tracks to come, the steady hands of Giorgio Moroder and Erol Alkan (let’s not forget he created the greatest mash-up in music history!) will certainly guide the band to fulfilling their vision for Future Past. Based on the lead single, it might be their strongest artistic statement to date.