After a reinvention and a new sonic direction, Lloyd Garrett (former hyperpop artist Voidie) has reemerged – now simply called ‘Lloyd.’ – and he’s brought with him an alternative / indie sound and some intriguing ideas.
‘Mania’ is Lloyd.’s third single, and it’s a 66-second track that has a strong concept. Lloyd. writes that ‘Mania’ is a raw dive into the highs and lows of a manic episode.
The song begins abruptly with a simple arrangement. Lloyd.’s voice is set back, slightly muffled, and hidden.
There’s a wonderfully raw snare sound – snapping like the jaws of a hungry shark. The groove rolls around like a living organism, and the ghostly guitars blur into the background, dissolving into smoke.
A hypnotic riff repeats around the word “mania” – the vocal melody follows the guitar, and it’s a catchy beast that burrows into your head.
There’s a darker tone to Lloyd.’s music. It seems to carry a weight and tension that set it apart and draw you in.
‘Mania’ is a simple, stark track – minimalist, modular. Hyper-focused with a looping thought that is gone in just 66 seconds with no resolution.
Given the insight into the single’s meaning, ‘Mania’ is brutally effective, and its fleeting runtime becomes a strength as it manages to convey much more than most.
Written by Grubby
