Having earlier reviewed the titular track and lead single for Kit Citrine’s upcoming album, I was eagerly awaiting the complete record upon its release. Midnight Masquerade was a flashy, glitzy, and powerful piece of artful yet definitively contemporary pop music that had a style and vision of its own. Just flooded with self-expression from back to front, Kit Citrine’s complete oversight of every aspect of the record, from the singing, instruments, production, mixing, mastering, and marketing really shows the drive and quality of this artist. In the face of obvious and seemingly insurmountable adversity, she was able to put out such a powerful piece of pop music.
On the full record, Kit Citrine finds her stride with shining colours. The record oscillates between more poppy and rock driven pieces at times, but constantly finds a way to intermingle those two styles in its rather eclectic and genre-defying fashion. From the resounding opener, it moves to a more melancholic and rather carefully curated slow paced tune on ‘Stardust’. ‘Radical’ sees Kit perhaps at the best of her vocal abilities, really letting herself strut the full range and capabilities of her voice. The arrangement is much more minimal, simply existing to accentuate her voice and the story she’s putting forth about expression, difference, and uniqueness. Certain tunes caught my eye from a more creative point. ‘The Robot Graveyard’ for one, a strange and dystopian futuristic art pop record feels like a record that has an almost artificial and robotic sheen all over it. From the choice of vocal processing to the high pitched synths and rather unique drum pattern, it’s an experiment to remember.
The album’s final two tracks, ‘Demons’ and ‘Alone in the After’ really see the emotional throes of Kit at their most fleshed out and expressive. All in all, the record powerfully showcases an artist with a clear vision, a determination for self-expression, and a style to remember.