thrupence

ali barter – trip EP

Lately, I’ve been feeling really driven to do something with my life. I’m coming to the end of my college career and it’s absolutely daunting that, in less than a year, I’ll be expected to become an “adult.” Suddenly, I find myself thrown into unknown territory where I’m looking up grown-up jobs, possible graduate schools, insurance, and ways to move to Canada.

What can I say, I’m ready for a change of pace.

Since I was a kid, I never really felt determined to do anything with life, nor would I try to pursue any sort of dream I may have had. This was mainly due to my wanting to become a pastry chef which my dad laughed away, though it is now a much beloved hobby. One of the perks of my college experience is that I’ve been able to fight for music in a way I’ve never fought before – I’ve dabbled in DJing, reviewed musicians and albums, and even started this lovely blog for you beautiful readers.

I’ve been lucky to find my passions at a young age, and have these seemingly different worlds connect so well with each other. Japan, music, and baking have collectively made me a person I’m proud of.

Okay, sentimental time is over, let’s cue in some new tunes by Ali Barter.

What initially drew me to this girl was that Thrupence did the artwork for her Trip cover, and it is absolutely stunning. I’m drooling into my beer bottle like a freshman due to pretty-overload, pardon me.

1. Run You Down

I don’t often write on non-electronic music, but when I do it happens to be groovy folk jams. Ali Barter opens up with smooth vocals over a lush melody of piano, guitar, and drums. The haunting lyrics of “I’ve been trying to run you down,” sets a darker mood for the EP, by lyricism at least. It reminds me of Rachel Yamagata meeting Ben Kweller and having a nice cup of coffee. Not quite as grunge feeling but there’s some sort of groove the different artists play on. This is a sweet track and Barter does a fantastic job of creating a song that would do well in live performances.

 

2. Riding Bikes at Night

This is a favorite of mine off the EP. Since I’m not usually one for lyrics in songs, this was a change of pace for me because I found myself more partial to the words than just the melody. It’s the layering she does with the instrumental making a perfect compliment to her voice. An absolute beauty.

 

3. Little Bruises

This is a quieter song off the EP and probably one of the saddest songs she bequeaths onto us. I can’t help but stare out the window and fall into a quiet flood of memories of past people I’ve dated. This is another favorite of mine because of how adept she is at writing lyrics. Must be all that Australian air going to her brain. Instrumentally, the guitar stands out the most for me, with the drums adding a nice nostalgic mood.

 

4. Marigold

“Marigold” is the most folk-oriented song Barter gives us. It continues with a quieter feel that “Little Bruises” introduced to us. It’s a sweeter song, thankfully taking away from the sadder qualities of the EP as a whole. I say this with a grain of salt because it is still a melancholic song in general. The highlights here are the guitars with Barter’s soothing voice over it.

Thrupence and Ali Barter are just adding to my desire of adventuring to Australia. Maybe that will be my treat next year.

-jo.

thrupence – voyages EP

Does anyone else here judge music by its album covers? As much as I try to avoid doing such a rookie move, it’s kind of hard not to with everyone and their left foot having means to make killer graphic designs. There is an abundance of absolute crap for album covers which can sour a mood to listen to a new artist – what can I say, pretty things are pretty for a reason. Work with it.

This past spring I fell for Thrupence, not just because of his music (though he is a favorite producer of mine these days), but for the cover of his Voyages EP. It feels like the moon destroyed itself with flowers and dripping paint. Oof. It’s a winner. Voyages is a perfect example of a seasonal album meeting the soul of a person to create a masterpiece. The overall vibe of the EP is darker, with interjections of “brighter” songs to balance out the troubled disposition of the release.

1. Voyages

Holy crap. Talk about setting the mood for a depressing EP with the title song having the only lyrics say, “right before I left my mom sent me a text message that said, ‘are you having a good day?’ …that was the last thing I saw.” While spring tends to be a rough season for me in general, I distinctly remember dropping my pencil when I heard that line which leads into such a tangled climax. The synths layered over piano is emotional to the point where you can’t help but tear up.

2. Folds

Thrupence follows “Voyages” with a less distressed, downtempo track focusing on glitchy drums and surrealistic vocals with flutes. It carries on the sadder vibes of the first song by making it suitable for a rainy spring afternoon. A strong track to follow the previous one, though on its own it may not hold as much character.

3. Winston

Initially, this song didn’t really cut it for me. It was a song I zoned out to quite a lot but it had one great advantage – it serves as a transition song in the most perfect way possible. “Voyages” and “Folds” are so overwrought with emotion that Thrupence, in a brilliantly subtle way, introduces brighter elements to “Winston” with a faster pace and tighter drums. There are fewer drawn out synth lines which segue ways seamlessly into the following track.

4. Synchronous Bloom

This was the song that put me on the Thrupence kick in the first place, after tammyszu posted it on her YouTube channel (you gotta check out her playlists, she’s one of my secret arsenals for music hunting). This is, by far, the loudest and most upbeat track on Voyages. I couldn’t help but bounce to classes and through the city to this song on a sunnier, yet cold day.

5. Parlay

The upbeat vibes don’t last for long since Thrupence takes us back to a very eerie place, almost like an ethereal ocean. It’s water drifting music, where if I could physically do it, I’d be floating around on an ocean and losing myself in mermaid voices. The bass line is pure sex. Diggin’ it.

6. Swashbuckle (Seabed Stroll Redo)

This is the song I include in the mixes I made for spring. As the title suggests, it’s a strolling song, especially in a city park. People watching to this little number is a gorgeous experience, because it makes everyone (even the grossest of the gross) have a bit of a glow to them. It’s dreamscape music and I’m absolutely in love.

7. Everforever

Another favorite of mine. It’s the “hopeful” song of the EP with a promise for something “good” to come. In a life sense I couldn’t stop listening to this on my bed with a cup of tea. It pairs well with an early morning and a lot of time on your hands to mill about.

8. Kickshaw (Bonus Track)

This is a very sweet song – it’s the kind that you ride around on a bicycle dreaming of someone you’re interested in. It’s short, to the point, and clean. There’s also a head bobbing, knee drumming quality to this track which makes me grin a lot. Nerding out a bit, don’t mind me.

9. This House is Full of Water (Bonus Track)

This is one of the glitchiest songs off the EP and is addictive in the spaciness of the synths. It’s got a similar dark undertone that nods to production similar to “Winston” and “Folds.” It’s another favorite of mine and despite it being a bonus track, it fits in well with the overall vibe of Voyages.

 

 

I’d strongly encourage anyone to buy this EP due to the sheer amount of ace tracks Thrupence put out. It’s depressing, for sure, but the production is so on point and clean that it’s bound to impress anyone who’s a fan of downtempo. Buy it. Support the guy.

As a bonus, you guys need to listen to a song off his mixtape Unfinished Business. There’s a track called “Ducky” that, if you grew up watching Land Before Time you will be instantly drawn into nostalgia overload.

 

-jo.

8tracks – summer nights

Made a mix on 8tracks. A number of the tracks on the mix are featured in some of my blog posts. Hope ya’ll enjoy.

TRACKLIST

  1. 3027 – Lasers
  2. Labyrinth – Zomby
  3. STADE 3 – Mr. Oizo
  4. Magic (feat. Gary Go) – The Knocks
  5. Black to White – Felix Cartal
  6. Poly Poly – The Sneekers
  7. Moon and Stars (instrumental) – Clams Casino
  8. Constellating – James & Evander
  9. Get Free (feat. Amber of Dirty Projectors) – Major Lazer
  10. You’re So – Bondax
  11. Jeans Colliding – Hoodcats
  12. I Walk (feat. Jessica Blanchet) – Mister Lies
  13. Ducky – Thrupence
  14. Vermont (Baptism) – Mister Lies & Different Sleep
  15. Let’s Go – James & Evander
  16. Turbulence – Different Sleep
  17. Cleam – Mister Lies
  18. Marriage (Halls Remix) – Gold Panda
  19. This House is Full of Water – Thrupence
  20. Swervin’ (instrumental) – Clams Casino
  21. S’eteint Le Soleil (Ridu remix) – Yelle
  22. Departure – Baths
If you want me to review any of the artists just show me a comment.
-jo.