22 Dec 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

Emily Riordan - EP Review: Waves

14 May 2019 // A review by darryl baser

Waves is a brand new 4-song EP from Emily RiordanWaves was mastered beautifully by Sam Johnson at Rhythm Ace Studio.

The beats on this release are by SHXSHI who obviously has a deep yet refined knowledge of which beats and breakbeats are in current vogue.

The opening tune Angel begins with chords on keyboards and guitar strummed and left for a bar, while a scratchy needle on vinyl sound builds up before the percussion begins. Angel has space, atmosphere and time, three things easily related to the qualities of an angel, one would think.

The second song Breathe builds in a similar way to Angel, albeit quicker in tempo, and reaches the chorus faster. Vocals on this track feature many effects, there’s a reasonably straight lead vocal allowing Emily’s powerful voice to soar, but at times harmony vocals are affected to within an inch of their life. Autotune has been used in a playful way - it’s not too bombastic.

Highlights is another beautiful tune; it's a bass heavy slow-jam with Emily’s multi-tracked voice weaving and soaring above. Again, it’s voice effects heavy and there’s not a lot of subtlety. But it works for the overall genre.

Aftertaste is the closing tune on the EP, and it punctuates this four idea paragraph with an excellent full stop. It includes the lyrics: "After taste, an aftershock"… "what a better way to break a heart.."

It is the perfect tune to end this brilliant release on.

Rating: ( 4 / 5 )
 

About Emily Riordan

Emily Riordan plays dreamy, melancholic soft pop influenced by her roots in classical piano and singing with a twist of Lana Del Rey. Her songs, featuring understated instrumentals and mellow, delicate vocals, are inspired by the highs and lows of human connection.




Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Emily Riordan

Releases

Untempered
Year: 2020
Type: EP
Waves Acoustic
Year: 2019
Type: EP
Waves
Year: 2019
Type: EP

Other Reviews By darryl baser

MEDaL - Album Review: Sequela
14 Dec 2022 // by darryl baser
Christchurch trio MEDaL are a combination of many years of New Zealand musical history. Singer and guitar slinger David Mulcahy was in JPSE and Superette, bass player John Billows has spent time with The Renderers and Dark Matter and drummer Mark Whyte is part of Into The Void.
Read More...
The Bobby Holidays - Album Review: At The Beach
13 Dec 2022 // by darryl baser
The Bobby Holidays' At The Beach opens with the song Jane, syncopation is to the fore with a great horn section blowing against bass, drums and guitar. The song has an up tempo happy summer vibe.
Read More...
Mad Cow - Single Review: Same Boat
01 Dec 2022 // by darryl baser
Same Boat is the latest single to be released Taranaki 3-piece Mad Cow. Mad Cow are mainstays of the New Plymouth have been around since the 1990’s in the North Island’s music scene, evolving from school band No Comment.
Read More...
The New Existentialists - EP Review: Last Days of the Internet
23 Nov 2022 // by darryl baser
It might seem like George D Henderson has been a part of the New Zealand music landscape for about as long as Keith Richards has been playing guitar. He’s been in the Flying Nun arena with The Puddle based in Dunedin.
Read More...
Nika - Single Review: Saviour Complex
03 Nov 2022 // by darryl baser
A song with an interesting title will always grab my attention, and the idea of people with a saviour complex has always fascinated me, so when the new song by Nika called Saviour Complex was offered to me to review I almost somersaulted. The song opens with a gently and alluring piano melody before Nika’s voice kicks in and from the first notes some vocal training is obvious.
Read More...
The RVMES - Single Review: Simple Things
05 Oct 2022 // by darryl baser
Oh My God. There are bangers then there’s this tune.
Read More...
VÏKÆ - EP Review: Love Games
25 Aug 2022 // by darryl baser
Veronika Bell, known to music fans as Vikae, has been composing and producing music for a good few years, and is gaining some crossover traction between the dance and pop worlds. While she writes many of her tunes on a piano, and can perform them beautifully with piano and her impressive voice, it is the dance-styled pop versions of her tune which have been garnering her acclaim.
Read More...
Mecuzine - Album Review: Locksmith Thief
21 Jul 2022 // by darryl baser
Now that’s a great way to open an album. Bruised and Broken is the first track of Mecuzine’s new album Locksmith Thief, and my god what an epic track to open their new record.
Read More...
View All Articles By darryl baser

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • APT.
    ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
  • DIE WITH A SMILE
    Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
  • BIRDS OF A FEATHER
    Billie Eilish
  • TASTE
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
    Gracie Abrams
  • ESPRESSO
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • SAILOR SONG
    Gigi Perez
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
    Shaboozey
  • GOOD LUCK, BABE!
    Chappell Roan
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report a ProblemReport A Problem