Måns Zelmerlöw – Primal

“I can’t imagine why that wasn’t one of the first tracks off the album.”

Tim: Yes, another one from Måns, just a few weeks after his last. It’s one he’s been performing live for a while, if YouTube recordings are anything to go by, but it’s only now out properly, as a track on his Chameleon album.

Tim: I’ll be honest: I can’t imagine why that wasn’t one of the first tracks off the album, or even the first – it’s light years ahead of Hanging On To Nothing, the vastly inferior lead single which you weren’t around for.

Tom: It is, but it starts very darkly. That’s one of the least promising introductions I’ve heard in a while: the synths sound like they’re from a year ago, the melody isn’t inspiring, and it’s a slow build.

Tim: Well, not much of that couldn’t be said about Heroes – it held up there, and I think it does here just as well (except for those vocal synths sounding like seagulls, but never mind those).

Tom: Yes, the first chorus almost redeems it, but I’m really not into it as much as you seem to be.

Tim: I was going through last Friday’s new music playlist, and this was the only one I wanted to replay immediately. It’s the first track I’ve heard off him since Heroes that’s made me go “oh, YES”.

Tom: Really? Even “Fire in the Rain”, which even now I’m still listening to occasionally? This just isn’t as good as that.

Tim: That was a very good tune, yes, but this just has everything – the instrumental, the perfect vocal and its fantastic melody in the chorus. I don’t often say this, but I don’t think I can fault this. Not at all.