Beginning with strong post-punk vibes with goth undertones, London trio hazy waters’ new EP watch out for deep waters gets off to a stunning start.
The first track is attention(E). It’s a blissed out thumper – to start – that eventually morphs into a bit of a headbanger. It feels like shoegaze, but with an added heavier layer of alt-rock riffage. Halfway through the track, there’s a melodic burst in the form of a melodic bridge (complete with beautiful vocal harmonies) before looping back to rifftastic deliciousness. A spoken word segment follows, in which singer and songwriter Agnieszka Trawczyńska bitterly dissects the character flaws of her ex-lover. The song concludes with the cutting couplet of (philosophers, lectures and books you’ve read / and you’re still thinking with your dick). I’m sure it’s a problem that’s all too familiar for many.
This is followed by overdose, and the post-punk vibes are back, but with added new wave touches. We’re reminded of The Cure and can almost imagine Mr. Smith’s dulcet tones over the top of this tune. It’s ethereal and beautiful, comprised of individual parts that blend together perfectly. The guitar shimmered and glistened – I was reminded of Johnny Marr’s iconic guitar on How Soon Is Now?
deep waters has almost a synthwave feel. It feels like darkness, solitude and neon lights. It’s hypnotic, enigmatic and executed with grace and expertise. The percussion is tight, the vocals are gloriously dreamy, and the song gradually builds over the course of its almost four minutes. As it does, it gets darker and more sinister sounding, and you think it’s heading in a certain bombastic direction. But just when you think it’s going to all kick off, the band dial it tastefully back. This song is also the closest we’ve come to a traditional chorus so far, which is an interesting and bold stylistic choice. This is definitely not cookie-cutter verse-chorus-verse songwriting.
game boy is a slow-building, gradually evolving beast. Like Mazzy Star meets Explosions In The Sky, it starts small but carries on the sinister vibe from the last tune. It hovers before soaring and eventually combusting. It’s a soundscape of a song and is admirable in its vision, ambition and execution. The electronic percussion is a nice stylistic variation and is most welcome. This takes us into the last track with a further twist in the tale of this release. her is a song of two halves. At first, it’s a relatively pared-back, piano-led slow jam. Eventually, it becomes an explosive, cacophonous wall of sound.
It’s a fantastic way to end this fantastic EP. Would love to hear it live. Will have to keep them peeled.
Written by Kinda Grizzly
