Dear listeners and readers, get ready because today we have an amazing story to dive into ‘Different Now’ by Meena. These guys from Manchester already have three EPs behind them, in which they have been feeling out their sound, searching for the places where the ice is thinnest, daring to walk that edge in order to find that sharp, gripping tone. In their first album ‘Different Now’ Meena have poured in all their soul, energy, and an incredibly catchy sound that might just reopen for you the whole concept of shoegaze-infused electronic music. Meena have created a mix of shoegaze, trip-hop, electronics, and pop elements that blending together form something entirely new and unlike anything else.

You know, when you hear Meena for the first time it feels like something truly important and unique is happening. The way genres shimmer and shift in ‘Different Now’ sounds commercial yet meticulous, and chaotic, but chaotic in the best possible way. It creates that very sonic space you want to explore and immerse yourself in. Across its 14 tracks the album unfolds into a real adventure, forming a kind of trip-like show where listening song by song you can invent your own stories that reveal themselves in your mind. I would like to highlight some of the brightest tracks, the ones that grabbed me the most.

You can feel that cyber cosmic atmosphere right from the opening track, ‘Doreen’. It’s a vibrant piece of shoegaze with shimmering electric textures, so charged it feels like the whole space around you is buzzing with electronic discharges. It’s both cool and immersive, and hearing such an intriguing blend of electronics with even a touch of ambient was genuinely thrilling. It instantly sparks curiosity about what’s coming next. I love how in ‘Wonder’ the melody dives deeper, the vocals dissolve into the sound, merging into an incredibly cybernetic space where electronics and shoegaze take the lead. This is Meena’s world and it sounds stunning. What’s amazing about this album is how each track unfolds in its own unique way, with its own distinct atmosphere, and I absolutely love that.

I have to highlight ‘Cast’. Here, the electronics lean into a very experimental direction, the vocals melting into a humming arrangement of guitars, while a hip-hop beat drives a vivid sense of rhythm. The result is a track both deep and atmospheric. You can close your eyes to ‘Cast’ and drift through space, floating endlessly, or just let it soundtrack a club night, surrendering yourself completely to the magic of Meena’s music. The next track, ‘Money’, sounds incredibly cosmic and electronic. Here, Meena once again turns their sound 180 degrees, it’s a deep, dark, and experimental piece that plunges into low and resonant tones, leaving you in a state of complete hypnosis, as if your consciousness locks entirely onto Meena’s sound and loses all control over itself.

‘Different Now’ feels startlingly light compared to the previous tracks: the guitars are clear and bright, and the vocals create a spacious ambient texture. There’s an atmosphere of something airy, otherworldly, positive, even tender. I love this dynamic, this shift from dark, heavy lows to light and ethereal highs. It gives the album a vivid contrast and makes it stand out. Achieving that kind of movement in energy and mood takes immense work, and Meena has pulled it off beautifully. Then it feels as if a new chapter begins within ‘Different Now’, leading into ‘Carte d’Or’ with a spoken monologue at the start and a lower, deeper vocal delivery. It’s as if Meena invites you to experience the sound from a new angle, with a more chaotic rhythmic flow and more experimental, intricate vocal work. ‘Stumble’ arrives with a delicate, hypnotic pull. Its warm atmosphere and high, floating vocals, dissolving into soft autotune, feel like stardust. The arrangement is lighter and gentler, creating a breath of space after the dense, pad- and instrument-rich textures that came before.

I have to admit, ‘Stumble’ is one of my favorite tracks on ‘Different Now’, thanks to its unique structure and dreamy, effortlessly stylish sound. The album closes with ‘How Far’ and ‘Peter’, which for me feel like one grand finale. ‘How Far’ unfolds slowly, driven by a deep, vivid rhythm, an intro filled with cosmic pads and richly layered electronic textures. It’s as if it opens a portal into another universe, a sound that feels both eerie and, I’d even say, thrilling. As it builds, the melody expands alongside a spacious, multi-dimensional vocal performance. Then comes the final track, ‘Peter’, grounding the sound in rich, resonant basses and bright, utterly distinctive harmonies that add a subtle distortion to the melody, fresh, striking, and bold. In just 1:59, it seems to reveal a mysterious yet delicate enigma that Meena has been weaving throughout the entire album. The saturated, airy synthetic sound gives it a distinctly conceptual tone.

I like the way the album ‘Different Now’ turned out with such a fairytale quality and sense of experimentation. I am sure that it is absolutely unlike anything that came before, and that is why it is incredibly captivating. In the sound of ‘Different Now’, everyone can find their own concept, feel something new and unusual, and face their own personal questions, unique and important to each listener. That is why you should build your own concepts around Meena’s music, allow yourself to switch off from reality, and let your mind wander far away, discovering interesting ideas and unique intentions. It is this depth that makes music loved, unique, and brings it closer to becoming a classic. Be sure to add your favorite tracks to your playlists and follow Meena, because I am sure there is even cooler electronic music ahead. This was great!

Hey, Meena! Thank you for releasing such wonderful music. This was an amazing album that really creates a brand new atmosphere. I truly felt as if I had disconnected from reality and ended up somewhere far away, somewhere in space. An incredibly cool combination of electronics and ethereal vocals, something very hard to achieve, but you made it happen. I must admit, it has been a long time since I have heard shoegaze of such quality and so well crafted. It is quite a difficult genre, and you managed to create something incredible, something that will unfold over the years and never become outdated. I will definitely show this album to everyone so they can also hear such bright and cool music. It is very stylish and has great drive. I love it and want more. I am your fan!

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With much love,
Soundville