Confident, evocative, mesmerizing

The music of Mike Hadreas, a.k.a Perfume Genius, has always leaned into abstraction and experimentation while rooted in emotions, reflection and introspection. These elements come to a wonderful balance in his fifth record Set My Heart On Fire Immediately. With intricate production and Hadreas’ striking performance, the album is brave, adventurous and relentless in its experiments with musical textures, resulting in Hadreas’ most confident record yet.

The evocative arrangements and complex production on Set My Heart On Fire Immediately are striking. Producer Blake Mills brings his signature busy and thoughtful instrumentations and imaginative soundscape made from clever juxtapositions of musical textures to the album, making it both ethereal and personal. “Leave” highlights this impressive quality in the album. The track features bright, clean guitar arpeggios and flowy synths underneath low and distorted vocals to emulate a breathtakingly surreal dream.

The roles reverse on “On The Floor.” The dark and muffled bass and guitars leave space in the busy arrangement for Hadreas’ light and bright vocal delivery and harmonies to capture desire in both its excitement and frustration. “Moonbend” continues the masterful blending of musical textures. The minimalist, distant chords and shy, steady bass highlight Hadreas’ tender falsetto, making every harmonic shift sounds like an embrace. The classical guitar and strings towards the end add a gentle and timeless poignancy signature of Blake Mill’s production

Hadreas’ vocal performance throughout the album is no less dynamic than the album’s production yet remains subtle throughout, gently letting his emotions shine through. In “Jason,” Hadreas’ steady, light and airy falsetto floats on top of wonderfully layered and dynamic arrangement with shimmering baroque harpsichords and strings to reminisce his nostalgic, poignant innocence. Hedreas’ gentle yet passionate delivery on “Without You” grounds the glittering piano, synths and strings to strike a delicate balance between sadness and hope. In the lead single “Describe,” Hedreas balances the expansive instrumentation with sensual whispers, pleading for a description of the goodness that he’s numb to. Never fearing from bearing his soul in song, Hedreas’ tender and sensitive performances bring intimacy to the often grand and experimental arrangements.

Set My Heart On Fire Immediately is a dense and complicated record, full of bold and playful experimentations tied together by mesmerizing performances and intricate production. The album is a vivid journey both into Hadreas’ introspection and into his evolution as an artist. In expressing and celebrating that journey, Hadreas glows with undeniable confidence.