To Imagine is the second EP from The Neighbourhood in the past few months, with Hard releasing back at the end of September 2017 (check out my thoughts on that release here). While I haven't found an interview or blurb from the band to confirm this, I believe that the EPs are two halves of a whole. One of the posts leading up to the release of To Imagine that listed the song titles numbered them 6-10 instead of 1-5, leading me to believe that they are connected in some way. Based on the sounds, they definitely are similarly themed; however, it's clear that there's a bit of a difference it terms of the tracks and sounds showcased with each release (which may be why the released them separately instead of together.
Electronics are key throughout the whole EP - if Hard was indie-alternative with a hint of electronics, then To Imagine is electro-focused-indie. Very few guitar/bass/drum parts have prominence in this collection of tracks.
The EP opens with "Dust", which starts with a low, brooding bass line that immediately sets a very different tone than Hard had. "Dust" alternates between moments of being stripped down and ominous and moments of swirling electronic noises that climb high into the atmosphere. The song has a sense of urgency to it, mostly built by the fast pace and the constant pushing and pulsing of the drum machine and the bass synth; a very visceral sound. There are some great moments of contrast created during the pre-chorus when almost everything cuts out except for Jesse Rutherford's vocals; the song then spins a complete 180 as the chorus breaks in with a huge wall of sound. The song has moments where it feels "heavy", which I don't mean in the metal sense. If the same sounds and largeness of sound had been created with conventional instruments, guitars, basses, drums, the song might have been too much for the band and wouldn't have fit with their vibe. However, by making it mostly electronic, it takes away some of the intensity while still providing a sound that gets your pulse going.
"Scary Love" is the most radio friendly song of the release (which is probably why they released it as the first single), and for that reason it feels like the least interesting track of the release for me. It goes in a direction and sound-scape that I can anticipate and am familiar with, instead of exploring ideas like the other tracks do. That being said, I still do enjoy the song, especially when the lyrics are taken into account. Instrumentally, its a little darker sounding (like "Dust" and "Heaven"), but a bit more light-hearted. Lyrically, the song talks about a relationship that is growing and how the subject has found someone who cares for him so deeply that it's somewhat frightening. It ends up being more of a focus on love than on something scary.
"Heaven" follows in similar footsteps as "Dust", except it pulls the throttle back a bit and opts for a more "Stranger Things" eerie vibe in terms of the electronic elements. The song also leans more towards a trap sound instead of electro, which is definitely unique in this EP but not unexpected. Hip-Hop/Rap has always been an influence on The Neighbourhood and shows up frequently in their music. The influence is especially prominent in the dissonant synth line that is in the background throughout the song and the Rutherford's vocals during the second verse; it sounds similar to what you'd hear on a lot of popular trap songs right now. The song ends up being haunting, especially when the lyrics are taken into account:
"You've got a heart from heaven but you're burning like hell."
It's one of my favorites from the release, with the way it mixes modern with nostalgia and the dark tone it maintains throughout the song.
"Compass" brings the tempo and vibe down quite a few notches, featuring one of the few prominent guitar parts on the release and letting the vocals take more of the spotlight than previously. It's a very different shift in gears, and probably the most mellow song of the release. Far more stripped down than the others, the song relies a bit more on simplicity and lower intensity sounds to create a more intimate mood and the most relateable song of the record. The lyrics for this song are my favorite of the release, with lines like:
"Baby, like a magnet
Can't help that I'm attracted to you, I am
Could you keep on guiding me?"
The image of the significant other being a compass, always pointing them in a certain direction and constantly being drawn to them is a very powerful and moving concept, one I've explored in my own writings and appreciated a lot.
"Stuck With Me" finishes the EP out in a more calm, relaxed mood than the way it began. The focus is again more on the vocals and lyrics while an 80's influenced instrumental guides the way for Rutherford to muse about some thoughts floating around his head. There's some pretty great lines from the song, such as this moment of clarify and understanding from the first verse:
"Realised I'm less important
Than I thought I'd be"
and the entire second verse:
"Our lives keep on gettin' shorter
Losin' opportunity
There might be some other ways of looking at it but
That's just what I see
I been gettin' over myself
Thinkin' about what you need
Then I realised that neither of us matter
What's reality, yeah?"
It's a fitting way to wrap up this EP that takes the listener on a wild ride through soundscapes, vibes, and genres to create what feels like a more cohesive and fluid piece of work that's an improvement on Hard. This release is a more solid release from the band, showing the growth and potential they could yet explore even more. Like I said in the last release, whether this is building up to an album or two stand along releases, I'm along for the ride.
Rating: 4/5
Recommended: "Heaven", "Compass", "Stuck With Me"
No comments:
Post a Comment