‘Hollwood Lie’ begins with a flourish of organic keyboards before the trademark synth and signature drum sounds kick in followed by Dale’s voice with that robotic intonation – it all sounds just like it should – just like Missing Persons in their 80’s pomp all over again! ‘King 4 A Day’ that follows is just simply beautiful New Wave Pop that sounds like it’s 1982 again! Now some bands try to eschew their past or at least build on it, or roll the dice and take a ride in another direction, but in 2023 Missing Persons feel like they are embracing the early 80’s with both arms, and if you loved those classic early records then this you’ll love too!
‘Movie Star’ is a little darker, a little dreamier and has a hypnotic refrain that works wonderfully well before we segue into the more angular ‘Castles In The Sand’ that shimmies before that familiar synth slides in and underlines that signature sound. It’s a wonderful set of songs to open with.
Sadly for Missing Persons after their real moment in the sun with 1982’s ‘Spring Session M’ for some reason the critics at home in the U.S. then never really embraced them again, but for some of us out there those releases from that first EP to ‘Color In Your Life’ were priceless synth pop that still stack up today. ‘Hollywood Lie’ is so close in terms of sound and songs that it could have been that next record had the band not split. It is without a doubt the best release since their heyday.
‘Lucky’ keeps that mid paced beat going and sounds just as good and the part spoken ‘Because Of You I’m Crying’ is just so damned laid back cool, the sort of thing you could imagine Debbie Harry tackling. ‘Fading Away’ adds some more dark Pop and ‘Circles’ mixes it up with a spoken word opening as Dale spits out the words over a wave of synth and more spoken asides. It might be the one that divides listeners but works with its trancelike electronic backing and evokes Missing Persons at their most experimental.
First single ‘Ice Blue Eyes’ is the complete antithesis of it’s predecessor with chugging guitar and hook, it’s as close as we get here to the sheer joy of ‘Spring Session M’ and instantly transports you back in time. It sits wonderfully uncomfortably against ‘I Can’t Take It Anymore’ which again opens with a spoken word and nursery rhyme-like lyrics and opening refrain. It’s classic Missing Persons.
The album closes with the half spoken ‘Gatsby’ a song where words punctuate a regular synth pattern, it’s at the ‘artier’ end of Missing persons’ canon and one that’s not ensnared me quite yet. It’s an odd way top go out as it just leaves you hanging. but it is as far as this listener is concerned the only misstep here.
‘Hollywood Lie’ is the real return of the ‘Missing Persons’ you loved and easily the best they’ve sounded since those string of 80’s classics. If you’re a fan, count the days till 11th November!
8 / 10