As soon as upon a time, U2 tried to make dance music. After efficiently reinventing themselves as ironic aesthetes on Achtung Child and Zooropa, U2 steered all the way in which into the late-’90s electronica hype wave on their 1997 album Pop, and the end result was not what they needed. U2 shortly deserted that aesthetic path, leaning into traditional sounds and elder-statesman standing on later information. So it is attention-grabbing to listen to U2 teaming up with the Dutch DJ and producer Martin Garrix now — not simply after the electronica factor grew to become a distant reminiscence, but additionally after the growth of festival-ready EDM that Garrix represents grew to become previous information.
Anyway, that is what’s taking place. U2 are instantly again to placing out a complete lot of music. Earlier this 12 months, the legendary band launched two shock EPs, Days Of Ash and Easter Lily. Garrix produced the Easter Lily monitor “Scars.” Again in 2021, Garrix additionally labored with Bono and the Edge on “We Are The Folks,” the theme tune for the UEFA European Soccer Championship. Earlier this month, U2 dropped “Road Of Desires,” one other new single, and the Edge appeared onstage throughout Garrix’s set on the Tomorrowland competition to debut their new collab “Fireflies.” It isn’t an Owl Metropolis cowl.
“Fireflies” is not fairly U2’s try at “A Sky Full Of Stars.” It is extra of a mood-piece than a determined anthem, and the festival-EDM touches are a bit of subtler than you would possibly anticipate. Actually, I would favor a bit of desperation. Right here, it virtually feels like U2 are actively searching for out new methods to concoct overproduced music. The Auto-Tune on Bono’s voice is very egregious, and the acquainted chime of the Edge’s guitar simply underlines how a lot formulaic music has been constructed on his sound’s blueprint. Hear it for your self beneath.
“Fireflies” is out now on Darkroom.
