STRFKR: “While I’m Alive”

STRFKR — also known, and pronounced, as “Starfucker” — are something of indie electro-pop legends. Since 2007 they have been refusing to drop their playful but inaccessible name for any lengthy period of time, occasionally cross-dressing on stage, and pumping out absolutely choice pop-laden gems.

“While I’m Alive,” the first track off their new album out next Tuesday, is pretty standard Starfucker fare: glowing synths, sprightly guitars, and slightly airy vocals. However, it also has a straight out-of-the-’70s groovy strut about it. It opens with a taunting pattern of “ah ah ah”s in an achingly high falsetto that fits nicely with the song’s wildly funky nature.

After the fairly philosophical and death-focused lyrics of their last release, Reptillians, Starfucker offers lighter, life-affirming lyrical content on “While I’m Alive”. The song embraces the “get busy living or get busy dying” mentality as evidenced by its chorus, “while I’m alive, I’ll live my life.” Josh Hodge’s yearning to silence his inner demons and “just keep on breathing and live” may not be the most profound of lyrical sentiments but it goes well with the carefree synth grooves. Towards the end, a few reverb drums are sprinkled on the track, a nice little musical flourish.

Starfucker has honed a recognizable electronica sound over the years, but they have also made room for a little experimentation across their first two albums and a handful of EPs. This song is no exception and, along with other newly released tunes like “Say to You” and “Atlantis,” it certainly has me excited about what the rest of Miracle Mile will serve up.