Future Past

by Duran Duran

Overview

Future Past is perhaps the quintessential title for Duran Duran in 2021, when the veteran New Romantics trade in their legacy while keeping their focus directly on the future. Occasionally, the gilded synthesized surfaces of Future Past recall the futurism of New Wave, but Duran Duran take pains to not re-create the past by inviting a fresh set of collaborators into the studio. Swedish pop star Tove Lo and English rapper Ivorian Doll are duet partners, Japanese pop band Chai provide a chorus cameo, while Mike Garson -- the pianist best-known for his work on David Bowie's Aladdin Sane -- graces the finale "Falling." Much of the actual vibe and sound of Future Past is due to the behind-the-scenes collaborators, specifically producer Erol Alkan and Blur guitarist Graham Coxon, a pair who are responsible for co-writing and producing the lion's share of the album. Together, Duran Duran, Coxon, and Alkan craft a dense, shape-shifting tapestry that gets punctured by the guitarist's melodic squalls and the group's thick hooks. Their work orbits "Beautiful Lies" and "Tonight United," a pair of neo-disco tracks produced by Giorgio Moroder strategically placed in the middle of the album. Much of Future Past feels like modern disco, music that blurs the distance separating the club and home and that plays with genre as fluidly as it plays with technology. Duran Duran are taking some calculated risks here which sometimes means they stumble -- occasionally, the ballads feel a shade strident -- but the restlessness makes for a kinetic, exciting album. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	10/22/2021
Label:	BMG Rights Management
UPC:	4050538693652

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Duran Duran   Primary Artist
Mike Garson   Featured Artist,Piano
Erol Alkan   Keyboards,Percussion,Tambourine,Synthesizer,Drum Machine,Handclapping
Joshua Blair   Piano,Guitar,Keyboards
Giorgio Moroder   Keyboards
Graham Coxon   Guitar
Nick Rhodes   Keyboards
Roger Taylor   Drums
CHAI   Shouts,Vocals,Featured Artist
Ivorian Doll   Rap,Vocals,Featured Artist
Barli   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
John Taylor   Bass
Tove Lo   Vocals,Featured Artist
Saffron Le Bon   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Mark Ronson   Guitar
Simon LeBon   Vocals,Keyboards

Technical Credits

Erol Alkan   Composer,Producer,Programming,Drum Programming
Akaku Takashi   Engineer
Joshua Blair   Arranger,Engineer,Producer,Pro-Tools,Vocal Producer,String Arrangements,Keyboard Programming
Giorgio Moroder   Composer,Producer
Graham Coxon   Composer
Nick Rhodes   Composer,Producer,Band Photo,Group Member
Matt Wolach   Mixing Assistant
John Webber   Engineer,Mastering
Christopher Layton   Composer
Lei Jennings   Composer
Vanessa Mahi   Composer
Ed Farrell   Assistant Engineer
Hannie Knox   Production Assistant
Kaz Haga   Producer
Mathieu Kranich   Assistant Producer
Duran Duran   Producer,Composer
Roger Taylor   Composer,Producer,Group Member
Richard Kennedy   Engineer
John Taylor   Composer,Producer,Group Member
Wendy Laister   Management,Executive Producer
Mark Stent   Engineer
Peter Karlsson   Engineer,Producer,Vocal Engineer,Vocal Producer
Cory Bice   Engineer,Vocal Engineer
Rory McCartney   Art Direction
Sharon Cho   Management
Tove Lo   Composer
Benji Compston   Production Manager
Daisuke Yokota   Cover Art,Photography
Mark "Spike" Stent   Mixing
Mark Ronson   Composer
Tom Herbert   Assistant Engineer
Richie Kennedy   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Austin Creek   Engineer
Simon LeBon   Composer,Producer,Group Member