Though she often makes a name for herself creating dance tracks that feel like wondrous extensions of something she could DJ, Sofia Kourtesis moves beyond that on her new record. Mixing traditional tones, more hardy vocals and a blend of her production and performance talents, this is a lush display of everything Kourtesis is as a person. “Corazón” evolves from an ethereal yet cold electronic world to a joyous celebration, as Kourtesis rises in the mix, singing from the mountaintops, and lets the sun really shine into her arrangements. The combustive, racing drive of “Unidos” is impossible to ignore, and the way Kourtesis is able to merge in these drops with samples that feel like the type of sounds the Avalanches would use, just makes it all the more delicious. There’s a refreshing squall of synths and swirling key lines amidst the deep bass of “Canela Pura” that leaves you dazed and elated as the track finishes out. Once you get through the extended setup of “Ballumbrosio,” you’re treated to an intoxicating mix of traditional drums and grooves with some modern electronic choices that morph the song into the greatest marching band you’ve ever seen.
Flailing to the raw spirit of punk, Thee Soreheads are fully unbridled on “Ratlike.” The song slowly lets itself disintegrate as the rage spirals into a fine drill in the back half. The riffs are on fire from start to finish, but the utter burnout they take on with the drums and vocals turns the whole song into a surreal nightmare that you can’t turn away from. Meanwhile, the white supremacist that inspired the whole song gives layers to the implications of ratlike in the lyrics, making the hate that’s flying back seem pale in comparison to the generations of hate that inspired it in the first place. And the sheer fury singer Maria Jimenez (aka Manella) brings to the track is so fierce and cutting that the song becomes unforgettable as a result.
Keeping the spirit of hyperpop alive, Blusher bring the drive and the frantic energy on their latest EP. Though at times chained to the pop more than their own voice, this is a magnetic display of intense production that elevates spirited dance music to something magical. The party is off to a dreamy and blown-out start on “Racer,” with the contrast between the cloudy highs and kicking beats of every chorus leaving you flailing your arms in excitement. The production is even more of a star in the trance-inducing “Don’t Look at Me Like That,” where you can visualize flying above futuristic cityscapes amidst the song’s romantic charms. The vocals hit their most dizzying highs on “Whateverwhatever,” where the group doesn’t go quite as broad on their typically explosive dynamic range but show off more play between the members and where their melodies can go. “Running to You” ironically spends much of it time slowing things down and showing off all those layers typically buried in their breakneck choruses, but while it doesn’t always feel totally singular in this effort, the ramp up to its final blistering drop is one that takes the album out euphorically.
The subdued drive of “Alberta” slows things down, making one reflect for a moment. There’s a sense of recovering from deep pain in the track, as the cracks and differences have been exposed, but Friday is still trying to enjoy life. With a scorching neon in the guitar notes and a golden rasp to Friday’s voice, the track sparkles amidst its sombre tone. While the singular dynamic and looping progression won’t be for everyone, there’s a power to disappearing down that abyss with Friday.
Clear-cut and to the point, Panic Shack make a short and sweet brand of punk that never underscores its own messaging. There’s a reckless fun to “Girl Band Starter Pack” that is so rare to still find in pop punk these days, making the even more playful vocals such a delight to the ears every pre-chorus. The frustrated, burning energy to “Gok Wan” laments the struggle women face to lose weight, but does so by turning the endless work to please into a bottomless hell. “Pockets” takes this to a more minute but equally enraging spiral, as the blaring keys and group shouts roar out about women’s pants in equally funny but cleverly provocative ways. Taking a brighter and more chipper angle, “Thelma & Louise” rounds things out on a fiery hurrah to friendship and how it can overcome any other relationship in our lives.
