aaamusic | On 04, Mar 2012

The EP opens with the single I Know, which hits the ears like an underwater current, an ocean of the melodious with dubstep influences but not overly so, not enough to hit the bow anyway. The hyperactive electronics have been toned down to form something more dream-like, a swirl of pastel clouds instead of a hit of steroids. Ellie Walker’s soft vocals float upon synth nostalgic of 80’s electro-pop and the pitter-patter of drumbeats, an innocent, somewhat siren amongst a trip-hop sea, stretched out and harmonised producing a sound like an underwater dream disco. It truly epitomises the picture on the cover of the EP.

A Green Light is more typical dance-pop, however still melodic and fitting with the previous track as we swap to equally dreamy male vocals this time. The heavy electronica has a feel reminiscent of early 90’s video games: Green Hill Zone, here we come. How to Build a Life Raft has a real ocean feel to it, the synth leads one to feel quite as though they have washed up onto a trippy, electronic island complete with the repetitive call of a distant siren adding to the beat.

The theme of water is very clear and draws the EP together nicely as a package; it really gets the listener into a distinct mood, imaginative and hazy. The Ballroom Scene brings a change with the addition of strings and piano and the lyrics have a more reflective feel to them. ‘From up here, I can see the curvature of the earth…She took his hand and said it all depends on this… Move across the ballroom like your life depends on it.’

On This One Will, Chagall provides very different vocals to Walker’s on the first track, they’re perhaps more commercial but feel like they don’t quite float. Lituya Bay is a nice end to the EP, rather classical and tranquil like pleasantly falling asleep drifting atop the sea. Overall, a promising debut and a lovely use of theme, however there certainly could have been editing done which would have drawn the theme together even further and produced a more polished piece.

 

Rose Benge