CD Reviews
Dina Summer - Girls Gang | Review
Dina Summer - Girls Gang
January 2025
Iptamenos Discos
Berlin-based synth-wave trio Dina Summer return with their sophomore album "Girls Gang"!
"Girls Gang" is an intoxicating fusion of dark disco, new beat, and EBM that sets their place at the underground electronic scene. Following the club-centric energy of "Rimini" (2022), the latest release expands their sonic borders, blending nostalgia-soaked Italo influences with sharper post-punk and synth-pop elements. The result is a neon-lit dancefloor record with a punk heart and a cinematic side.
Dina Summer, formed by electro-punk veteran Kalipo and dark disco DJ/producer duo Local Suicide, have already built a cult following, with their music supported by heavyweights like Charlotte De Witte, The Hacker, and DJ Hell. On "Girls Gang", they elevate their signature mix of pulsating basslines, hypnotic vocals, and sinister synthscapes, crafting an album that’s both club-ready and emotionally deep.
The album kicks off with the title track, "Girls Gang", a loud declaration of unity and defiance, wrapped in a haze of arpeggiated synths and driving percussion. "Schall & Rauch" follows with an thrilling mix of German vocals and strong new beat basslines, even reminding of early DAF with a modern twist.
Nostalgia plays a key role throughout the record, particularly on "Halkidiki", which blends its retro melodies in sun-bleached synth warmth, bringing to mind faded memories from long-lost summers. Meanwhile, "Promise Me (featuring Curses & Joshua Murphy)" delivers melancholic vocals over an Italo-EBM hybrid that feels equally suited for night-time drives or shadowy warehouses.
For fans of heavier club cuts, "Zombie" and "Disco Goth" embrace a more aggressive, body-moving approach, pounding with ghostly atmospheres and heavy rhythms. "Girls Gang" closes with "No More Tears", a powerful song of liberation with hypnotic synths and a bittersweet yet empowering energy.
With "Girls Gang", Dina Summer refine their aesthetic without losing the raw energy delivered in their debut. This album is darker, richer, and more introspective, blending themes of empowerment, outsider identity, and moments of euphoria. "Girls Gang" is the meeting point of sleazy late-night EBM, synth-pop melancholia and driving new beat grooves. A mix of retro-futurism and raw club energy, "Girls Gang" makes Dina Summer an exciting act coming from the dark disco underground.
Info:
https://www.facebook.com/dinasummermusic
https://www.instagram.com/dinasummermusic/
https://www.tiktok.com/@dinasummermusic
https://dinasummer.bandcamp.com
