By The Music Editorial Team
On December 5th, the celebrated indie electro-pop duo, St. Lucia, released the second installment of their two-part album, Fata Morgana: Dusk. Described by one half of the husband-and-wife duo, Jean-Philip Grobler, as an optimistic and uplifting album, the release of Fata Morgana: Dusk, mixed by longtime collaborator Chris Zane (Jack Antonoff, Passion Pit, The Walkmen), follows Fata Morgana: Dawn, released earlier this year. Accompanying the new release are visually arresting music videos that the duo produced around where Grobler grew up in South Africa. A respite from endless scrolling and news cycles, the second installment of the two-part album takes inspiration from the quiet power of nature as reflected in both the album title and album art. An optical illusion found on the horizon of large bodies of water, a fata morgana gives the impression that a vessel floats above it, suspended in the air.
St. Lucia's first release in 2012, When the Night, saw popular singles like “September” strike a chord among a nascent electro-pop indie scene. Often compared to distinct vocalists with a worldly quality like Phil Collins, Grobler resonates amid a musical sea increasingly filled with sameness. With their charismatic uplifting vocals, the Fata Morgana project extends their carefree vision into a dance album that flows seamlessly from beginning to end. In the airy song “People Change,” the duo accepts the nature of personal growth and forgiveness through a delightful dance track. As “Summer Nights” crescendos in the middle of the album, we remember that it may be a strange but necessary time to release a dance album to the world. Grobler’s unique soundscape comes to the forefront in “Into the Sky” where a catchy marimba-like synth grounds the track's cathartic vocals. The album culminates in “Something’s In The Way (Reprise)” where a classical ensemble at the start of the track morphs into ethereal vocals backed by the band in what may be an optimistic response to Nirvana’s sardonic song of the same name.
As Grobler explained in an interview with Rain, he remains committed to optimism in electro-pop music; a rarity nowadays, no doubt, but he is also aware of slipping into saccharine territory which it is safe to say this album does not. Authentic in a way sure to please listeners who demand it, the Fata Morgana double album continues in the tradition of 70s, 80, 90s, dance legends like Donna Summer, Prince, Madonna, or Daft Punk, and delivers a very danceable and enjoyable album, from start to finish.
Fata Morgana: Dusk is now available on streaming platforms. Music videos from the new album can be found on YouTube. Also available for purchase, the double album is offered as a limited-edition vinyl, specially designed by the band. Starting this year, St. Lucia will begin their North America tour with available dates listed on the band's official site here.
St. Lucia will celebrate the release of the new album with a special pop-up event in New York on December 9th at the Sabah House in Noho, featuring live performances, exclusive merch, and more.