★★★★★
Since debuting in 2015, Slow Pulp has spent a decade and a bit cultivating their sound, culminating in the high point of their career with their third album, ‘Melodie’, their first release since 2023.
With the anticipation built from the earlier releases off of the album, ‘Spill’, ‘Not for Nothing’ and ‘Better Man’, the album has been cooking under the heat of an emotional burst that is perfectly assembled by its related songs. Ultimately, supporting the theme of the entire album- the layers of self-reflection and the tribulations of conflicting emotion.
Between the first three songs initially released, the band begins telling the story of layered and conflicting emotions with their first release and leading single, ‘Better Man’ With a stronger alternative rock sound and complementary crisp vocals, the song very strongly depicts the cyclical nature of trying to become something new and grow from what you were with a new sense of control. Appropriately, alongside the rawness of the emotions, the lyrics reflect that same openness: “Cause I can hurt myself again / As I fade away from everything / And I hear a voice that’s telling me to lay”. Further exploring the sense of control, these lyrics perfectly depict the release of emotion and the allowance to rest.
Another song on the album that parallels these feelings of control can be found in ‘These Days’, a solemn song that explores the monotonous days of life, aimlessly facing loneliness. While the song reflects these feelings with a consistent tempo and tone, it’s sonically layered with acoustic and folk sounds, contrasted with electric ad-libs. Merging genres together.
The second release, ‘Not For Nothing’ explores the misalignment of each other's emotions and the bittersweet nature of miscommunication. With a heavy hand on strings and piano, the song fits well within the pre-established repertoire of Slow Pulp. Approaching the album with their classic tastes, this song showcases the electric vocals of lead singer Emily Massey. This sound is carried on in their song ‘Spill’, a slightly rockier-twee sound emphasised in the use of electric guitar. Perpetuating the theme of the album, it continues to maintain a resounding bittersweetness, once again touching on a lack of communication. Within a world of casualness, the song asks for reassurance, begging someone to declare their emotions with lyrics like “Would you tell me that you love me? / Say it out loud, wanna find out / I’m so sick of only seeing the half of it”.
What could be considered its sister song with a pop-ish tone, ‘Entertainer’ delves into caring about someone dearly, but not being certain that the relationship is the best for either party. Ultimately, yearning for and entertains something that could never really work.
The album's single ‘Melodie’ brings in a harsher sound, reminiscent of grungier 2000s rock with a Midwestern-pop influence. The song enters with a strong riff on a guitar and maintains high energy throughout the whole song, unrelenting. Though the energy is high, the song seems to depict a sense of depreciation while trying to improve oneself. The lyrics contradict the instrumental and repeat: “Melodie / In the background of a dream / Trying to pull me in”.
One of Slow Pulp's strongest aspects as songwriters is their ability to conjure such strong imagery for listeners. Particularly, with their song ‘Yellow and Green’, the band tells an introspective tale of growing up and apart from someone yet being connected through shared experiences and memories. The softness of the track encourages tenderness surrounding the lyrics, comparing each other to the colours yellow and green. Complementary and forever connected. Especially alongside the mention of trees, this comparison symbolises the roots that have been laid, but also strength and invulnerability. Reminiscing, the lyrics express “I know I will never forget about you / My yellow”, the reassurance needed to foster a relationship through difficulty.
Breaks within the intensity of the album are sparse; ‘Red Car’ seems to be the only song that feels like a breath of introspection- initially. With its alternative-grunge sound and the faster pace of the song, it feels much more free-spirited. However, looking closer at the lyrics, the song slowly reveals a fleeing narrative, wanting to escape from their problems in the aforementioned red car. Displaying a helpless demeanour: “I guess I could try again, but it won't go / No, it can't go / So just lock up / Throw away the key”.
‘Like Me’ is the most stripped-back song on the album. Relying less on layered instruments and much more on isolated electric and synth-like sounds. While it is less lyrically led, the emptiness left in the instrumental and the haunting reverb of backing vocals maintain this heartbreaking tone of rejection. Saying very little, but so much with lyrics such as “Do you think of all the things you’d save for the right time / Cause I know that I could wait”.
A lack of control is revisited in the track ‘Up to You’. It pleas with the bargaining stage of grief within a breakup. While being the helpless one in this decision, they ask with a pensive tone, “Cause I want it to last / Is it all up to you?” On par with the rest of the album, the song digs deep into vulnerability, uncovering the insecurity of oneself, actions' effects on others and the layers of relationships. Begging: “Could it all get fixed with a little time? / Is it still what you want? / I just hope that's enough”.
With the closing of the album, ‘Slip Away’ brings a brighter tone sonically. The instrumental is more stripped back, focusing less on the layered electronic sound and more on the raw vocals. Bringing to the foreground their final thoughts- moving on and acceptance finds its place.
The final words of the album perfectly conclude: “And everything feels easy, when I forget that everything is different when it's over / Then I slip away”.