Lilac [LP]

Donna Regina - Lilac [LP]

Lilac is the first Donna Regina album since 2019's Transient. The world has changed considerably since then, which has also left its mark on the Berlin indie pop duo. "In Lilac, I imagine good ol' Earth as a big ol' bear shaking us off because it can't stand us anymore," says Regina Janssen. "It has become a serious album," Gunther affirms, but he is also adamant that it is not a sad one. Musically, Donna Regina have remained true to the spirit of their early work, recently re-released by Karaoke Kalk: their arrangements are as minimalist as they are emotionally rich. Samples play a smaller role this time than on earlier albums, with analogue instruments such as a monophonic synthesizer and, above all, guitars coming to the fore again. This frames lyrics that are being delivered by Regina in German, English, or in both languages. They delve even further into the intricacies of urban life. Starting with the ominous sounds of "Whole World In My Town," through the dreamscapes of "Autumn In Paris," to the elegiac conclusion of "No More Roses," Regina and Gunther Janssen move through different timbres and styles with a few select means. Their preference for minimalist electronics becomes evident at times, while elsewhere the pieces open up to balladic arrangements in which the guitar plays a leading role. This turns Lilac into a city by itself, the songs forming its soundscape: every neighborhood looks different, every street has its own character. 
01. Whole World In My Town (3:05)_x000D_
02. Welt in einer Stadt (2025 Version) (3:59)_x000D_
03. Morgen (2:27)_x000D_
04. Lilac (3:01)_x000D_
05. Gaze aus Staub (2:29)_x000D_
06. Autumn In Paris (4:44)_x000D_
07. Gentle Giants (3:42)_x000D_
08. Alles vor Augen (3:47)_x000D_
09. Nothing Heavy (3:41)_x000D_
10. Ich sehe den Blumen beim Sterben zu (2025 Version) (4:40)_x000D_
11. No More Roses (3:50)