By Raushan Melton
Staff Writer/Artist
London-based electropop duo Oh Wonder released their self-titled debut EP on September 4th. In the dreamy atmosphere the pair creates, there are only a few gems hidden beneath the synth heavy surface of mid tempo piano beats and layered vocals.
Following up to the release, Oh Wonder found strong success with the monthly release of a song on Soundcloud, triggering sold out shows this upcoming winter. This slow trickling of their music was a smart idea, generating over six million listens on social media but simultaneously a complete blow, ruining most surprises for the upcoming album.
Opening with a slow, vibrating love song, “Livewire” captures a lovelorn theme of wanting someone who can suffice after many mistakes. Soft, fluctuating vocals compliment the steady beat with the lyrics, “So hold me when I fall away from the lines; When I’m losing it all, when I’m wasting the light; And hold me when I put my heart in your hands.” A pretty song, it creates a strong incline that only prepares the listener for very similar tunes.
More emotional lyrics continue along a spacious beat in “Body Gold”, creating background hum. The song is a filler, repetitive when compared to later tunes in the album. Voices croon romantic, deep lyrics to create an emotional connection to the listener, but it is lost due to how basic and uncreative the song is. “Technicolor Beat” and “Drive” attempt to save the boring rhythm with a breezy template but seem to go no where. “Without You”, “The Rain” and “All We Do” all share a similar style. Though talented artists, creativity seems to be at a loss in most of the album. Playing with whirring instruments, the duo soars these songs into a forgettable realm.
A memorable track would be “Lose It”, stirring up a new, faster rhythm that causes a tap of the foot. Still toying with chilled, loving lyrics, bold snapping fingers create a jazzy ambiance that spices the first third of the album up. Oh Wonder keeps its obvious style but switches it up with a saxophone and maracas. With whimsical words, tangible tension is hung to create a refreshing environment compared to the rest of the melancholy songs.
Not as successful as “Lose It”, “Dazzle” attempts another change in the unimaginative album. The song uses more technology than previous songs, with shaky samples and tapping keyboards. An autotune effect on the voices with live-fast die-young lyrics create a messy layout for the rest of the song. Oh Wonder forgets its traditional heartfelt spills for shallow words that would be hard to connect with its live-fast-make-money mantra.
The rest of the album seems to blur together, giving the listener a simple finish. Oh Wonder leaves one wondering what their new sounds will come out to be, and if they will be able to break through the hunch of smooth beats and wispy lyrics. Though the atmosphere that is laid out is soothing, it’s boring. Thankfully, the talented duo has time to figure out what they want their sound to be – and hopefully it won’t be something forgettable.
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