Serving buoyant, dance-friendly synth pop and shimmering confessionals,
Princess of Power
finds Welsh pop star
Marina Diamandis
in the same mode as heard on much of her post-
Froot
material. Following 2021's politically charged
Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land
, this is a rebirth of sorts for the quirky trailblazer, turning inward to reclaim a bit of herself, celebrating personal growth, and highlighting a maturing perspective on life. The ethereal, Eurodisco-kissed title track feels like
Kylie
-meets-
ABBA
and would have fit in perfectly with the 2020s escapist disco revival. A "super heroine" empowerment anthem, it sets the stage for the rest of the album's themes of inner strength and energized spirit. The cathartic "Butterfly" employs
Marina
's distinctive vocal cadence and delivery as she sings about rebirth, while the bold, synth-driven "Cuntissimo" provides one of the record's cheekiest girl-power anthems (and a bevy of quotable one-liners). "Rollercoaster" pushes liberation on a "Hollaback"-styled rave-up that swells and drops like the titular ride. Balancing the pep and power with a heavy dose of vulnerability, "Metallic Stallion" is a dramatic vocal showcase that shifts from a bittersweet tearjerker to a galloping, sweeping release, while "Everybody Knows I'm Sad" sets the album's most sorrowful and miserable lyrics to sparkling production as
sings, "I've been so lonely all my life/Don't know if I can survive." Elsewhere, "Hello Kitty" and "Adult Girl" push those unflinching confessionals to tearjerking limits in a way that she's never done before. If those sad moments bring you down, fear not: "Cupid's Girl," "I <3 You," and the
Ace of Base
-channeling "Digital Fantasy" keep it playful and mischievous. Overall,
is yet another sleek, solid set from the reliable pop star. ~ Neil Z. Yeung