The Vanities bring glamorous drama to thrilling single, “The End of Love”
Cardiff pop duo The Vanities have struck gold with their latest single “The End of Love,” a dazzling collision of retro glamour and modern pop precision. Drawing from the neon-lit worlds of Eurythmics and Depeche Mode, the track manages to feel both steeped in nostalgia and refreshingly contemporary. It’s an intoxicating blend of drama, groove, and atmosphere that proves The Vanities know how to make pop music that isn’t afraid to go big.
From the first horn blast in the intro, courtesy of local jazz musician Jack McDougal, “The End of Love” announces itself with flair. It’s cinematic, even theatrical, with a kind of widescreen energy that feels tailor-made for a late-night city drive or a climactic movie scene. The song’s synth textures are lush and immersive, pulling from New Wave’s shimmering palette but delivered with modern production polish. The result is a track that nods reverently to the past while standing firmly in the now.
The guest contributions only elevate the single’s impact. Welsh rock veterans Owen Powell (Catatonia) and Andy Fairweather Low lend their guitars with the kind of effortless cool that can only come from decades of experience, their riffs adding grit and texture to the synth-heavy core. However, it’s Kaysha Louvain’s vocal contributions provide a haunting counterpoint to The Vanities’ delivery, creating a layered dynamic that keeps the song unpredictable and alive.
For us, it was the sheer atmosphere of “The End of Love” that seals the deal. Produced at Shabbey Road Studios with Al Steele of The Korgis, the track radiates confidence and sophistication, balancing melancholy with glamour. The saxophone solo soars, the synths shimmer, and the vocals carry just the right amount of drama without tipping into excess. It’s heartbreak wrapped in sequins, an anthem of endings that paradoxically feels like a celebration.
With “The End of Love,” The Vanities deliver more than a single, they deliver an experience. It’s bold, stylish, and unapologetically big, proof that pop still has the power to be as theatrical as it is emotional. If this is what the end sounds like, we’ll happily keep pressing repeat.
Not only is it undeniably catchy, but you can definitely move and groove to it as well. We’ve reviewed The Vanities in the past, so you can imagine our excitement to hear something like this that continues to make a statement in their growing catalog. Go ahead and crank it up for yourselves, follow along, and stay tuned for more by clicking those links below!
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