Inverclydes own synth wizards Paparazzi are bringing the 80’s back in style with their debut EP ‘In Motion’, featuring four synth pop anthems packed with energy and feel to dance your heart out to.
The first track ‘Relapse and Relief’ sets the scene by dropping you right in the midst of its sinister angst. With lyrics touching on caving into the will of a person who you probably shouldn’t be with, the song carries an immense emotional weight. The aggressive saturated vocals, driving drum beat and gritty guitar attacks are contrasted by high whining synth lines mirroring the vocals above. This adds an interesting twinkling texture to the song. The track then strips back completely in the bridge with a piano solo reminiscent of early 2000’s emo music. We then build back into a huge climax full of longing and desire, making for an excellent big finish.
The mood then shifts as we come to the second track ‘Glam Shot’ which is the perfect song for freeing yourself on the dancefloor. The track was the bands first single, and is full of their signature synth melodies, driving drum backing and groovy guitar riffs which dance around the vocals, with lyrics about worshipping the subject of the songs beauty. The song stays at a consistent high until the climax in the bridge featuring a heavier breakdown and forlorn vocals before circling back into the energetic chorus once more.
Keeping with the vibe and danceable nature of the previous song we move into the penultimate track ‘Superstitions For Fools’, which is irresistibly funky and another great track to bounce around to. The saucy basslines set the perfect foundation for the lively music full of dynamic ebbs and flows and tasteful stops which adds a fun interactive element to the tune. The song features more isolated synth melodies and backing vocals with a huge powerful sound which help make this track as fun and exciting as it is.
The final track (and my personal favourite) on the record is ‘Drowning’ which perfectly encapsulates the feeling of desperation and yearning the lyrics put across with its haunting vocals, driving pop punk style guitar attacks and chugging drum grooves. The song starts with a delicate synth motif that slowly intensifies in momentum and throws you into the incredibly catchy instrumental intro. The chorus starts with a call and response between lead and backing vocals that mirrors the guitar from the intro and sets the tone well. The mood dips slightly as we enter the bridge with isolated pleading vocals joined shortly after by booming drum fills in the build up to a massive euphoric finish to a song that can only be described as one epic journey.
The Paparazzi boys are doing something not many young musicians are up to these days and it is a breath of fresh air. Their talent is not going unnoticed and I for one am very excited to see what else they have in store for us in future! You can keep up with the bands next moves @paparazzi.gla on Instagram.
‘In Motion’, out now on all major streaming platforms.