NEW ALBUM: DURAN DURAN | FUTURE PAST

Duran Duran is celebrating 40 years since the release of their “bop-bop-bop” debut single, “Planet Earth,” a delightful introduction to the band and its fashionable New Wave glory, in the most satisfying manner with the release of their 15th studio album, “Future Past.” The British outfit that helped define MTV with ’80s-era smashes including “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Rio,” “The Reflex” and their No. 1 James Bond theme, “A View to a Kill,” has endured plenty of fissures in their foundation including member defections and side projects, but persistence prevails. "Future Past" is such an outward-looking, collective experience. The production is beefed out by Mark Ronson and Erol Alkan, while hugely experienced disco icon Giorgio Moroder was also brought on board. The guests, too, present a remarkably varied palette – Blur’s Graham Coxon assists on guitar. At the same time, vocalists range from pop queen Tove Lo to incendiary rapper Ivorian Doll via Japanese garage-pop outfit CHAI. The band’s first album since ‘Future Gods’ in 2015, ‘Future Past’ is the work of a group resurgent. While many of their peers have opted for merch-stalling fillers as they grind out another Greatest Hits tour, Duran Duran has decided to challenge themselves. Frothy, neon-soaked entertainment, ‘Future Past’ – when it works – is a blast of ridiculous 80s themed fun.