Tension II

On 22 September 2023, Minogue released Tension, her sixteenth studio album, following Disco in 2020. Upon its release, it received universal acclaim from music critics for its production quality as well as Minogue's personality and delivery throughout the album, with many publications naming it one of the best records of the year and one of Minogue's best works to date. Commercially, it was a success, reaching number one on various record charts in Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Scotland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. To promote the album, she released three singles, including "Padam Padam" and the title track, both of which were critical and commercial successes, generating viral sensation and cultural significance. In January 2024, Variety reported that Tension would be repackaged and released later that year. The following month, Minogue hinted at working on new music during an interview at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, where she received her second Grammy this time for Grammy Award for Best Pop Dance Recording for "Padam Padam". ==Concept and development==

Minogue had no intention of making a new record initially and instead planned to expand on her previous album with new material. However, after evaluating several songs that did not appear on Tension and later having the opportunity to work with new producers and writers for Tension II, she decided to scrap the repackage of Tension in favour of creating a new record. In July, Minogue confirmed she was working on new music, and teased a potential live comeback in the United Kingdom. On 8 July, Minogue teased new music on social media with the acronym "MOM," which turned out to be her single "My Oh My", with American singer Bebe Rexha and Swedish singer Tove Lo. It also inspired the Gemini zodiac aesthetic of the album cover and title for Tension II. She later released "Edge of Saturday Night", which features British-American DJ the Blessed Madonna. Minogue teased an announcement on her social media on 18 September, and one day later, she revealed Tension II, its release formats, the lead single "Lights Camera Action", and the announcement of her Tension Tour. Additionally, it is Minogue's first sequel project. Originally, the song was a collaboration with British singer Raye, who is listed as a co-songwriter. However, due to other release commitments, she did not appear in the final recording, and the track was handed over to Minogue. The Blessed Madonna describes the track as "about edges", saying "When I sat down to write lyrics for the very first time, I was on the edge of a brand new life. When I programmed and wrote the music that would become this song, I was on the edge of the next big leap into producing." Minogue appears as an engineer on the majority of the tracks, and songs such as "Taboo" and "Someone for Me" were recorded in hotel rooms, with the latter in Mexico. ==Music and songs==

(pictured) and Madonna Tension II is a dance-pop and electronic album that includes elements of club, disco, electropop, pop, and synth-pop music. It is marketed as the "high-energy, high-octane" version of Tension, with additional "dance floor anthems" and a more electronic-driven sound. Forbes writer Chris Malone Mendez described the album as "packed with dance-pop outings of various tempos designed for any kind of party". Austrian outlet Kronen Zeitung noted the album's mix of "disco anthems, EDM stompers, electropop, and a touch of the 80s". Minogue stated that based on feedback she received about the material on Tension II, she described it as more "energetic" than its predecessor. "Someone for Me" is influenced by 1990s dance-pop, disco, and house music, with elements of Ibiza and Balearic beat and instrumentation. Lyrically, the song discusses feeling happy for someone who is in a relationship while also wanting one for yourself. Lyrically, it is about flirtation, with each singer using their astrological sign throughout the lyrics to introduce themselves in a playful manner to a potential lover. "Midnight Ride" combines Peck's country music with Minogue's disco music, featuring a "EDM festival-core whistle refrain" and "mechanical guitar chugs throughout". The album's closing track, "Dance Alone" with Sia, is a pop and disco number that has been compared to Minogue's work on Tension and Disco. ==Release and packaging==

Tension II received a wide release on 18 October 2024 by BMG and Darenote, and serves as her fourth output with both labels. The standard tracklist differs from the vinyl and cassette versions, with minor changes to song placement. Studio Moross handled the album's promotional shoots, while Charlotte Rutherford photographed the album cover with creative direction from Aries Moross. It features Minogue standing in the centre of a crystallized Gemini symbol, with the album title at the top and her name at the bottom. In an interview with Hits Radio, Minogue compared the album cover to the artwork of her eighth studio album, Fever (2001), stating, "I was actually on a moving swing with ropes [...] In getting that picture, there was a lot of tension to deal with [...] To me, the album cover looks a little bit a throwback to Fever, it's like the grown-up sister or something". ==Promotion==

in Budapest in 2024 The second single from Sia's Reasonable Woman album, "Dance Alone" premiered at one of Minogue's More Than Just a Residency shows and was released by Atlantic on 7 February 2024. Upon its release, the song received favourable to mixed reactions, with some critics praising Minogue's contributions to the track and others criticising its similar sound to Minogue's album Tension, and believing Sia was inferior to Minogue's contributions. Commercially, it reached the top ten of component charts in Australia, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, and the United States. A music video premiered on Sia's YouTube channel. "Midnight Ride", the second single from Orville Peck's album, Stampede in collaboration with Peck and Diplo premiered on 7 June by Warner Music. On 11 July, Minogue released "My Oh My" with Rexha and Lo in digital, streaming and physical formats. Commercially, it charted in Australia, Estonia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The music video premiered on 9 August and was filmed on location at the English stately home Syon House in Brentford, which is the Duke of Northumberland's London residence. "Edge of Saturday Night" with The Blessed Madonna was released on 14 August by Warner and Margeverse. Singles "Lights Camera Action" serves as the lead single to Tension II, and was released on 27 September by BMG and Darenote. It was released on digital and streaming platforms, and later as a digital extended play (EP) with the original version, an extended mix, and remixes by Confidence Man, Zach Witness, and Jaconda. Upon release, "Lights Camera Action" received positive reviews from critics for its high energy, overall sound and Minogue's carefree vibe. British filmmaker and long-time collaborator Sophie Muller directed the music video, which features Minogue in various guises and performing the track on a staged set in Budapest, Hungary, and premiered on Minogue's YouTube channel the day after its release. The single received positive reviews from music critics and debuted on component charts in Australia, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. "Someone for Me" was released as the second single on 17 January 2025. The song was remixed by German DJ and production duo, YouNotUs. Tension Tour Minogue first mentioned touring in an interview in July 2024, when she announced a possible return to both Australia and the United Kingdom for shows. Minogue announced the Tension Tour on 20 September, the same day she revealed Tension II and "Lights Camera Action". This will be her first concert tour since Summer 2019, as well as her first series of shows since More Than Just a Residency. In response, she stated, "I am beyond excited to announce the Tension tour 2025. I can’t wait to share beautiful and wild moments with fans all over the world, celebrating the Tension era and more." The tour began on 15 February 2025 in Perth, and will travel through Australia, Asia, and the United Kingdom, with additional dates in Europe, North America, and South America confirmed. ==Critical reception==

Reviews Tension II received positive reviews from music critics. Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average based on ratings from publications, gave the album a 77 out of 100 based on twelve reviews, indicating "generally favourable reviews". Ky Stewart of Junkee called it one of Minogue's best albums and a "solidification of Kylie's legacy in pop music". Stewart praised the record's danceability and Minogue's attitude throughout, describing it as "louder, sexier, and more unapologetic". Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic' praised the album's danceable nature, saying it offered "irresistible dance anthems", but he preferred "more immediate cuts on Disco and the first Tension". Awards and recognition At the 2025 ARIA Music Awards, the album was nominated for Best Pop Release and Best Solo Artist. ==Commercial performance==

In Australia, Tension II debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart, as well as on the Australian Artists and Vinyl Albums charts. It became Minogue's eighth number-one studio album, her fifth consecutive number-one, and her ninth number-one album overall in the country. In Japan, the album debuted at number 47 on the Billboard Japan Download Albums chart and 40 on the Oricon Digital Albums chart. Tension II topped the UK Albums Chart with 35,235 units in its first week, becoming Minogue's tenth number-one album in the chart. With this feat, she joined ABBA, Coldplay, Queen and Michael Jackson, extending her record as the third female artist with the most number one albums, behind Madonna and Taylor Swift with 12, as of 2024. The album also debuted at number one on the Official Vinyl Albums Chart. ==Track listing==

Notes • signifies an additional producer. • The vinyl & cassette release track listing rearranges the 13 tracks placing "My Oh My" as track 1, "Edge of Saturday Night" as track 6 & "Midnight Ride" as track 7 with the CD & digital release tracks 1–4 placed as tracks 2–5 & tracks 5–9 placed as tracks 8–12 respectively. Only "Dance Alone" has the same placement on all releases as track 13. ==Credits==

Recording studios • Bluebell Studios (Sussex) • Encore Recording Studios (Los Angeles) • Glenwood Studios (Burbank) • Godsquad Studio (London) • Lab of Love Studios (London) • Lucy's Meat Market (Los Angeles) • MXM Studios (Los Angeles) • New Levels Studios (London) • Noatune Studio (London) • Private Sector Studios (Los Angeles) • Record Plant (Los Angeles) • Rokstone Studios (Los Angeles) • Sleeper Sounds Studios (London) • Sony Music Entertainment • Strongroom Studios (London) • The Ribcoge (Los Angeles) • The Roundhouse Studio (Essex) • Warner Music UK Limited Musicians • Kylie Minogue – vocals • Ina Wroldsen – backing vocals (tracks 1, 2, 11) • Lewis Thompson – bass, drums, programming, synthesizer (track 1) • Chris Laws – drums (tracks 2, 11) • Steve Mac – keyboards (tracks 2, 11) • Peter Rycroft – bass programming, drum programming, guitar, keyboards (track 3) • Kevin Hickey – guitar, programming (track 3) • Pablo Bowman – backing vocals (track 3) • Sarah Hudson – backing vocals (track 3) • Benjamin Kohn – bass, guitar (track 4) • Thomas Barnes – drums, programming (track 4) • Peter Kelleher – keyboards, synthesizer (track 4) • Caroline Ailin – backing vocals (track 4) • Rosie Danvers – cello (track 4) • Tommy Danvers – keyboards (track 4) • Zahra Benyounes – viola, violin (track 4) • Neave Applebaum – bass, drums, programming (tracks 5, 7); keyboards (5) • German – drums, keyboards, programming (track 5) • Alna Hofmeyr – backing vocals (track 5) • Vaughn Oliver – bass, drums, programming, synthesizer (tracks 6, 8) • Jennifer Decilveo – bass, drums, guitar, programming, synthesizer, vocals (track 6) • John Morgan – bass, drums, programming, synthesizer (track 7) • Will Lansley – bass, drums, programming, synthesizer (track 7) • Duck Blackwell – bass, drums, guitar, keyboards (track 9) • Biff Stannard – keyboards, percussion (track 9) • Gez O'Connell – guitar (track 9) • Raye – backing vocals (track 10) • The Blessed Madonna – drums, piano, programming, synthesizer (track 10) • Dance System – electric piano, electronic drums, keyboards, piano, programming, synthesizer (track 10) • Joy Anonymous – programming (track 10) • Pat Alvarez – programming (track 10) • Grace Banks – synthesizer (track 10) • Harald James Jones – synthesizer (track 10) • Bebe Rexha – vocals (track 11) • Tove Lo – vocals (track 11) • Christopher Stracey – baritone guitar, bass, guitar, Mellotron (track 12) • Kane Ritchotte – drums, percussion (track 12) • Marta Cikojevic – backing vocals (track 12) • Benny Bock – Fender Rhodes (track 12) • Orville Peck – vocals (track 12) • Diplo – programming (track 12) • Jesse Shatkin – bass, drum programming, drums, keyboards, percussion, synthesizer (track 13) • Jim-E Stack – bass, drum programming, keyboards, percussion, synthesizer (track 13) • Sia – vocals (track 13) • Eli Teplin – keyboards (track 13) Technicians • Dick Beetham – mastering (tracks 1–9, 11) • Jay Reynolds – mastering, mixing (track 10) • Randy Merrill – mastering (track 12) • Chris Gehringer – mastering (track 13) • Guy Massey – mixing (tracks 1–3, 5–9, 11) • Serban Ghenea – mixing (track 13) • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing (tracks 4, 12) • Kylie Minogue – engineering (tracks 1–4, 7, 12, 13) • Chris Laws – engineering (tracks 2, 11) • Dann Pursey – engineering (tracks 2, 11) • Lostboy – engineering (track 3) • Zhone – engineering (track 3) • Chris Bishop – engineering (track 4) • Kieron Beardmore – engineering (track 4) • Lewis Wright – engineering (track 4) • Matt Wolach – engineering (track 4) • TommyD – engineering (track 4) • Vaughn Oliver – engineering (tracks 6, 8) • Jennifer Decilveo – engineering (track 6) • Neave Applebaum – engineering (track 7) • Duck Blackwell – engineering (track 9) • The Blessed Madonna – engineering, vocal engineering (track 10) • Grace Banks – engineering (track 10) • Pat Alvarez – engineering (track 10) • Pete Min – engineering (track 12) • Jesse Shatkin – engineering (track 13) • Ezekiel Chabon – additional engineering (track 13) • Samuel Dent – additional engineering (track 13) • Bryce Bordone – mixing assistance (track 13) • Kevin Hickey – arrangement (track 3) • Rosie Danvers – strings arrangement (track 4) ==Charts==

Weekly charts Year-end charts == Certifications==