Danceable melancholy: Heaven Is A State Of Mind as a goth pop spectrum
When I heard the song “Heaven Is A State Of Mind” for the first time, it was immediately clear: there is something dark, almost resigned at work here, which at the same time comes across as so danceable and smoothly produced that it only really got under my skin on the second listen. Pictureplane has created a sound here that, for me, acts as a mirror of the present. This mixture of melancholy and pop appeal doesn't feel accidental – it's a product of our time. When depressive moods are combined so naturally with club-ready beats, I feel one thing above all else: the cultural pulse of an era in which even hopelessness is on repeat.
Musically, the track moves between synth pop and goth pop, with clear references to Depeche Mode – which shouldn't come as a surprise when you hear that Pictureplane had exactly that in mind. I think you can hear it very clearly: the romantic pathos in the vocals, the hypnotically pulsating synths, the distant, almost cold soundscape – it all adds up to a coherent, dark overall picture. It's not a song that radiates warmth. To me, it sounds more like a cool, smoky basement club after midnight – not unwelcoming, but not inviting either.
This mixture of post-industrial attitude and spiritual escapism is reminiscent of the dark side of urban electronica as I know it from the scene. For me, Heaven is a State of Mind is not just a stylistic exercise, but a clear statement: danceable end-time mood with attitude.
