Review Summary: A promising career's strong start
All things considered, it's been a fucking insane summer for synthpop. Nearly a half-decade after New York-based boutique Neon Gold helped launch the careers of
Passion Pit,
Marina and the Diamonds, and
Ellie Goulding, the label's
Charli XCX stands on the precipice of supernova---jumping from double-platinum feature (Icona Pop's "I Don’t Care," which she wrote) to double-platinum feature (Iggy Azalea's "Fancy," which she co-wrote) to her own top-10 single ("Boom Clap"). Meanwhile, Stockholm's
Tove Lo is the label's red giant. Versions of her breakout single, "Habits" (or "Stay High," depending on when you first heard it), have been streamed an estimated *holds out hands* ten billion times since the song appeared online in late 2013. Just weeks ago,
Jessie Ware dropped "Tough Love," the first single and title track off of her follow-up to 2012's excellent
Devotion. Due out in October,
Tough Love is being produced by Benny Blanco, and will be released on his Friends Keep Secrets imprint.
Following in the footsteps of the aforementioned synth-goddesses is Ryn Weaver, a protostar for FKS, who posted "OctaHate" (embedded below) to her Soundcloud in late June. The song, co-written/produced by Charli XCX and fellow Neon Gold alum Michael Angelakos (of
Passion Pit), along with Blanco and FKS labelmate Cashmere Cat (no idea who this dude is tbh), is frenetic and obsessive-- a breakup song so fitting to mark a fresh start that it will make you want to forge one of your own... to jump into the shower and scrub away your grime and hopelessness (and all before the the second chorus ends). Now, this might not sound like the most glowing recommendation, but it's actually what I live for in pop music nowadays--
a song that makes your skin crawl. The flash of self-affirmation that comes at the end of the bridge ("I should have known…") marks a new start, and a chance to look up, exhale slowly, and continue moving your life forward.
I am not crazy about the bits on "Stay Low," the EP's clear low-point, where Weaver tries to mix in a bit of rapping. There's nothing particularly egregious here, and nothing that even rises to a turn-off, but the vocals feel a bit out of control, slick production notwithstanding. "Sail On" has a nice buildup-- the track grooves for sure-- but really neither of these tracks even remotely approaches the mastery Weaver found on "OctaHate."
The song that comes closest is clearly the title track. Although it's an anthemic take on recognizing personal shortcomings, "Promises" brings a bit of levity in Weaver’s fluttering vocals, which really outshine the music they're layered upon. Overall, this little EP is a great listen and shows a lot of promise. also i'm staff guys.
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