Tim: Broods, a fairly successful New Zealand duo, and this, a track that got used on a recent episode of Teen Wolf, which I rather liked.
Tom: I was actually startled when that introduction kicked in. Wasn’t expecting that.
Tim: And so often, that style of music – the breathy female vocal, light synthy backing – is downbeat and, as you said yesterday, a bit Mopey, and when this started I was fairly sure it’d be another of the same.
Tom: Now you phrase it like that, I wonder if that’s me being a bit sexist? If that was a gravelly male voice, would I be labelling it “emotional” rather than “mopey”? I’d like to think not, but then I also can’t think of a male equivalent.
Tim: Well, I wouldn’t rush to call yourself sexist – there’s a thing about the vocal that I can’t describe – see also Elsa & Emilie – that generates that sensation, and that doesn’t tend to come with a guy singing. Mopey may not have been a perfect word, but it’s more descriptive than just ’emotional’ and it certainly fits. Particularly here in those first few lines – “I burnt my fingers”, “hid under blankets of ignorance” – which all seem to play into that stereotype, so I couldn’t help but break out into a big smile when the true message revealed itself.
Tom: And the chorus revealed itself as well. Finally, something in our recent run that seems like it’s actually uplifting.
Tim: Isn’t it great? And not only was that a lovely surprise – to quote the song, I couldn’t believe my ears – but the music kept on being lovely as well.
Tom: It suffers, as usual, from “middle eight more interesting than the actual song syndrome”, an unfortunately common problem, but hey: it’s still not bad.
Tim: Oh, it’s more than that, it’s wonderful. Upbeat, chirpy, joyous, and great music that, well, certainly borders on anthemic. Love it.