Danse Macabre

by Duran Duran

Overview

Future Past not only revived Duran Duran's critical and commercial fortunes, it helped get the band inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, so when faced with the task of delivering a sequel, the group made the logical decision to have a laugh. Throwing aside any notion of sobriety or importance, Duran Duran instead dedicate themselves to conjuring the ideal soundtrack to a Halloween party. The "party" part of the equation is important. Danse Macabre may be filled with creepy sounds -- indeed, it opens with a revival of the band's early masterwork "Nightboat" -- but this isn't a belated excursion into goth, it's a collection of after-hours fun that flirts with high camp. At times, that flirtation is blatant, as when the group interpolates Rick James' funk classic as "Super Lonely Freak." Generally, Danse Macabre nimbly walks the line separating the spooky and the silly, opting for black-lit dance-pop instead of chilly atmosphere, balancing covers of Talking Heads and Siouxsie & the Banshees with songs by the Rolling Stones and disco legends Cerrone, adding a credible cover of Billie Eilish's "Bury a Friend" for good measure. Between these familiar songs lie a bunch of new ones, including the slow-burning "Secret Oktober 31st," which was written with original guitarist Andy Taylor, who plays throughout the record, marking his first recorded appearance with the group in roughly 20 years. This is a momentous occasion, but the charm of Danse Macabre lies in how Duran Duran seem unencumbered by expectations: they're lying back and having a good time, resulting in a record that captures their silly and serious sides in equal measure. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	10/27/2023
Label:	BMG Rights Management
UPC:	4050538952247

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Duran Duran   Primary Artist
Warren Cuccurullo   Guitar
Nick Rhodes   Keyboards
Mr. Hudson   Loops,Guitar
Andy Taylor   Guitar
Victoria De Angelis   Bass,Vocals,Featured Artist
Alexandra Astama   Vocals (Background)
Alexandra Stama   Voices
Simon Willescroft   Saxophone
Nile Rodgers   Guitar
Roger Taylor   Drums
John Taylor   Bass,Guitar
Rachael O'Connor   Vocals (Background)
Nate Merchant   Bass
Anna Ross   Vocals (Background)
Joshua Blair   Piano,Guitar,Strings,Percussion,Synthesizer
Dom Brown   Guitar
John Thirkell   Flugelhorn

Technical Credits

Keith Richards   Composer
Chris Frantz   Composer
John McGeoch   Composer
Warren Cuccurullo   Composer
Lene Lovich   Composer
Nick Rhodes   Composer,Group Member
Mr. Hudson   Producer
Patty Palazzo   Artwork
Russell Graham   Engineer
Ben McIldowie   Composer
Susan Janet Ballion   Composer
Rory McCartney   Design,Art Direction
Alonzo Miller   Composer
Nate Merchant   Engineer,Bass Programming,Drum Programming
Billie Eilish   Composer
Billy Halliday   Engineer
Finneas O'Connell   Composer
Phil Kemp   Technician,Instrument Technician
John Webber   Engineer,Mastering
Ed Farrell   Engineer
Andy Taylor   Composer,Engineer
Simon LeBon   Composer,Group Member
Bob Clearmountain   Mixing
James Johnson   Composer
Duran Duran   Producer
David Byrne   Composer
John X. Volaitis   Engineer
Jerry Dammers   Composer
Richard Woodcraft   Engineer
Rick James   Composer
Nile Rodgers   Composer,Producer
Mick Jagger   Composer
Roger Taylor   Composer,Group Member
John Taylor   Composer,Group Member
Wendy Laister   Executive Producer
Budgie   Composer
Kevin Bell   Technician,Instrument Technician
Tina Weymouth   Composer
Alain Wisniak   Composer
Marc Cerrone   Composer
Joshua Blair   Engineer,Producer,Pro-Tools
Steven Severin   Composer