Earlier this week, Lady Gaga released her long rumored collaboration with Mark Ronson, Kevin Parker, and Bloodpop, entitled “Perfect Illusion”. The track, which also features Josh Homme on guitar, will feature on her upcoming follow-up LP to 2013’s ARTPOP.
“Perfect Illusion” marks a return to pop-diva form for Gaga, who has spent recent years promoting and touring behind her 2014 jazz-standards collaboration with Tony Bennett, Cheek To Cheek. The track, at least vocally, is a paint-by-numbers Gaga track, employing soaring, chorus heavy vocals and pounding electronic baselines.
However, the additions of Parker and Homme to her production stable add a very welcome new dynamic to her established sound. Homme’s guitar squall and Parker’s psych-driven arrangements add a New Wave finish to Gaga’s straight-up pop. The single remains grounded in 1980’s dance-pop, but flourishes of the decade’s more interesting sounds abound.
Lady Gaga has not yet announced the title of her upcoming album or its release date. In an interview with BBC Radio 1, she revealed Beck, Father John Misty, and Florence Welch will feature on the new album. The night after the official debut of “Perfect Illusion, Gaga performed the new single live at London club the Moth.
Gaga has released five studio albums, including her 2014 collaboration with Tony Bennett. Her most recent solo album, 2013 ARTPOP, received mixed critical reception. She recently won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film for her performance in American Horror Story: Hotel.