Musical Bliss Alert! The Last Dinner Party's 'Prelude to Ecstasy' Deep Dive Album Review

Check out my in-depth review of The Last Dinner Party's debut album, "Prelude to Ecstasy." Discover why this all-female band is making waves in the music scene.

[@SchrijverMarcel]

This band is gonna be huge. I’m 57 years old and I haven’t been this impressed with a band in ages.

[@MusicMentionsReal]

Hey, Marcel! I agree, they will be huge. They have all the right ingredients.

[@missmaecosplay6858]

This is the first new band I’ve heard for a long time that seem like they genuinely understand music. The album reads like a bunch of musical theatre/ orchestra kids got together to make a rock band, they GET how songs should be constructed. Their vibe is young and campy but undeniably intelligent.

[@MusicMentionsReal]

Cara, you're absolutely on target. I don't think they could pull off these songs if they didn't have some good knowledge of music theory and song structure. Thanks for the comment!

[@Baribrotzer]

@@MusicMentionsReal Aurora went to music school and has formal training in composition. I'm not sure how much of the music she actually writes, but she might have something to do with some of the fancier chord progressions, and making sure the transitions between sections work. It wouldn't surprise me if she wrote that short orchestral intro piece, too.

[@RichardGoucher]

I’m an aging punk rocker and just bought this album. It’s pretentious, self indulgent and over the top and I absolutely love it. As the reviewer says, it’s a whole album and you need to listen to it in its entirety. Haven’t heard something so complete as this for a long while.

[@MusicMentionsReal]

Thanks for watching and the comments, Richard! Glad you're digging the album as well.

[@RichardGoucher]

@@MusicMentionsReal just listening to it again now, and thanks for the great review 👍

[@ChrisCarline]

Saw them live last year, this band is the real deal. I get they won't be for everyone (I mean, what is?) but if the album connects, it's just great to listen to all the way through. Great review!

[@MusicMentionsReal]

Thank you, Chris! They are definitely the real deal. I'll be seeing them in Denver in August, really looking forward to it.

[@frankkortstee9877]

It just simply fantastic, great album, great band, great performance and they are on the perfect moment in cultural change. Feminine power

[@MusicMentionsReal]

I agree wholeheartedly, Frank! Thank you for watching!

[@michaelkneale3825]

The album is excellent. Sinners is my favourite.

[@MusicMentionsReal]

Sinner is a killer tune!

[@reedread58sofus24]

This album: No.1 on UK album charts :)

[@MusicMentionsReal]

Deservedly so!

[@thomasmartinson8208]

Just discovered this video and your channel, I don't know you feel about more folk/Americana music but the new Adrianne Lenker album is awesome. Keep up the good content.

[@MusicMentionsReal]

Hey Thomas! Thanks for watching! I dig the Adrianne album. I'm a Big Thief fan as she is indeed something special. Saw Big Thief back in 2022 and she just had that indefinable star quality to her. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@ArmandoMPR]

Love your in-depth reviews! Consider checking out Sprints, a new Irish band with some heavy post-punk leanings. Their debut album, Letter to Self, was released last month.

[@MusicMentionsReal]

Thank you, Armando! I'll put Sprints on my list. BTW, I'm a big fan of the Irish band Fontaines DC, another great post-punk outfit.

[@Fogg1969]

It's funny you likened the guitar playing to Blur in Sinner. The first time I heard that I thought 'wow, she's playing notes only Graham Coxon would play'. I'm not a musician, I don't understand scales and modes, but those solos are SO Blurry. I've loved Blur since 1991, but I consider this a better album to Ballad of Darren. It's a modern masterpiece.

[@MusicMentionsReal]

Hey Fogg, thanks for the comment! Yep, definitely a little Blur influence going on. I'm also with you on saying that this album is better than Darren...and I LOVE Darren!

[@vanessaTheGrittyArtist]

I fell in love with Nothing Matters as soon as I heard it. I thought I wouldn't like anything else by them but ive heard a few more songs and now i cant wait to listen to this album. I agree with everyone saying they will be huggge! ❤❤❤

[@MusicMentionsReal]

Thanks Vanessa! As of right now, this is my album of the year but we'll see how the rest of the year plays out.

[@sah-win]

Great review! This band is spectacular.

[@MusicMentionsReal]

Thanks Sahwin!

[@suartgilmour4540]

Only listened to it a couple of times, but I like it alot. Very 80s sound as you say - I hear Siouxsie, Echo & the Bunnymen, Smiths, Queen, but also more modern bands like Radiohead and Arcade Fire. And yes, ABBA on Sinner. Also INXS (Never Tear US Apart). But though you can clearly hear those influences, imo, that's pretty good taste! And there is very little padding/filler. Everything is concise and to the point for maximum impact. The exception being the closer, which as you say has a cinematic sound, to me almost like a Bond theme. Plus those two tracks with guitar solos towards the end are very welcome too. So yeah, very impressive for a debut. I'm sure as they progress their sound will become more original. But when the songs are so catchy and well produced, and the album is so well structured and sequenced it's hard to criticise it much! Stuart

[@MusicMentionsReal]

Hey Stuart, thanks for your comments! This is really an exceptional album that I really enjoy every time I still listen to it (which is quite often, actually). As you state, it will be really interesting to hear where this group goes in the future, they have all the right ingredients to be something special. Cheers!

[@jeremymanson1781]

Influences also include Sparks.

[@markstuartwakeley]

Top man stay safe. The Latest Torres album from Jan 24 is worth a listen.

[@MusicMentionsReal]

Thank you! I’ll definitely give Torres a listen.

[@suartgilmour4540]

Btw the new MGMT album is well worth checking out. Great year already for album releases!

[@MusicMentionsReal]

You read my mind! MGMT is my next review and should be up before the end of today :-)

[@ilabelle1]

Hmm…been sorta sampling this album. It’s ok. I think the orchestral stuff is cool. Her voice reminds me of PJ Harvey’s. The album isnot grabbing me enough to purchase. Good detailed review Paul. 👍

[@MusicMentionsReal]

Hey Ian! Thanks! Give it a few more spins. Different moods. It's a tremendous record.

[@ilabelle1]

@@MusicMentionsReal I’m sure it is Paul. But you know how it is. I’ll listen to reviews but I have to be a little fussy with my time and money. I have a lot of music and as you know it takes time to listen to it all. Especially when you’re trying to wrap your head around something new. Nevertheless I’ll keep listening to your reviews and if something really bites me on the ass then you’ve helped shift another unit. Keep it up Paul. I’m listening.

[@deathbydiarrhea9146]

For me this was a pretty decent debut, I feel that it's more of a see what influenced us and see what we can do, and it really showed in the song choices. You see their strengths and also what music these girls grew up listening to. My only critique is that they played it safe, most if not all the songs have a radio friendly vibe to them maybe because they were wearing their influences on their sleeves, easy listening sure, some did stand out but overall it lacked a cohesiveness to bind everything together. Other than that, it's a solid debut album, great lyrics, good tunes, around a 6.8 out of 10 for me. I would be interested to see how far these girls can evolve their art.

[@MusicMentionsReal]

Thanks for watching and the comments, Death! Regarding playing it safe, many new artists these days need to come out of the gates with all they've got. If they made an album that was impenetrable or a more challenging listen, they may never get a second chance. Labels used to support and nurture an artist over several albums before the artist's work hit, but those days are long behind us.

[@deathbydiarrhea9146]

@@MusicMentionsReal - I do understand the reason why they decided to go that route. As I said, it's a decent debut, something I wouldn't mind listening to but will probably take a while to resonate to. The girls are talented and it was a commendable first effort. I would say they took a similar route Florence + the Machine took with their first album which also had a similar effect.

[@em0_gremlin]

Is the original video that got them picked up on KZbin ? :)

[@sah-win]

@emilynorriss3557 Yes! It was filmed by Lou Smith and is still on his (fantastic!!!) channel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fF62Y5WfpqiGadksi=KjkFKT4F5Ppiz3iA

[@paulc3037]

It's Lou Smith's channel. It's not letting me post a direct link, but he filmed TLDP at their fourth gig at MOT over two years ago. It seems this was the catalyst for their sudden rise! :)

[@sah-win]

@@paulc3037 I’m glad it let you post that. I tried also a few days ago and it wouldn’t let me either. Lou’s channel is solid gold.

[@paulc3037]

@@sah-win Yes! I only just discovered it recently, if you're looking to discover new bands, his channel is perfect! :)

[@marrrr19]

They really do remind me of ABBA! I love their sound!

[@mauriceysmith7701]

Abba IS not a band only very Bad soup Compare TLDP with them IS just a joke

[@davidcarter3109]

I love the album. Totally against the genre of albums that I normally purchase. I sincerely hope they will be big. I look forward to their next album. Have you heard their version of Kate Bush’s “Army Dreaming”. It is fabulous. Good luck to this beautiful album and band.

[@MusicMentionsReal]

Thanks for the comments, David! I've got a feeling they will be quite big. The U.S. is still finding out about these guys and I imagine their tour here will give them further exposure. I'll check out the Bush cover, haven't heard it yet!

[@davidcarter3109]

Army Dreamer is a beautiful song. Anti war really . Kste Bush did it originally. Hope you find it. You Tube have it by both Kate and the last dinner party.

[@MusicMentionsReal]

@@davidcarter3109 Thanks David!

[@gmantramp404]

Have you heard their cover of This Town ain't big enough Its very.....Meh

[@MusicMentionsReal]

@@gmantramp404 I have. It's a quirky Sparks cover for sure. Not sure what I think of it yet but I'm happy they're getting some more tunes under their belts, even if it's covers.