![]() English captures this beautifully in the chorus: When the fantasies do not play out, accepting reality becomes an endless tug-of-war and living it becomes a struggle. Like for so many people, starting a new life can be simultaneously exhilarating and frightening. On the splendid, guitar-driven, pop tune “It’s Not Real”, English reveals the confrontation with reality. What is clear is the desire to be set free and reclaim control. Feelings of entrapment and isolation percolate throughout the song, but it is unclear if the antagonist is an individual she has met, someone from her past, a place she has lived, or the other voice inside all of us. The ebbs and flows of the song are fantastic, particularly the breathtaking, downtempo bridge, which adds to the song’s drama. It stutters with a Joy Division / New Order-esque rhythm yet blossoms with Daywave-like synths. The first four lines of the song perfectly encapsulate these feelings: Uncertainty, confusion, optimism, hope all permeate across the track. The music beautifully complements English’s story of identify and self-awareness. The second track, “Make It Better”, is a gorgeous bedroom-pop song that falls between the shimmering indie-pop of Alvvays and the early synth days of one Claire Boucher (a.k.a. But her departure is temporary because one can never bid adieu to the past. Meanwhile, the lyrics may give the indication of one spending a night away, it feels more like a farewell to her home, a waving goodbye to the past and the welcoming of a new start. ![]() The DIIV-like vibes give the song a warm, embracing quality that draws you immediately. Her first single was “Never Going Home”, which kicks off the album. The title of the record and the order of the songs have all been arranged with the greatest care and thought. It is her way of opening herself up to the world. Never Going Home is not merely an EP it is English’s story of the past few years. Put them together like a puzzle, and the picture as to whom English is becomes clearer. Individually, each single contains a piece about the artist. On the contrary, the extended player is a must listen for anyone who wants to learn more about the person behind the songs. Of the five songs, four have already been publicly released, which may dissuade people from purchasing or listening to the EP. Last week, English released her debut EP, Never Going Home. Despite her surging popularity, the Australian-born, Oakland-based singer-songwriter has kept a low profile, allowing her music to speak for her. Despite her meteoric rise of the past eighteen months which saw her first three singles be streamed more than 1.2 million times on SoundCloud, very little has been revealed about Hazel English.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |