And so here he is, the legendary Glasgow artist going by the name TRAQUAIR, finally back on his throne, ready to shake the music world like nothing before. Out now on Levelled Records since July 22nd, his newest amazing EP, TRAQUAIR, is finally back on his throne, ready to shake the music world like nothing else before. Indeed, this EP can be considered an extraordinary piece of truly artistic creation, skillfully balancing the gloomy and reflective moods of nighttime solitude and all of a sudden breaking into dazzling moments of intense passion and memories of what could have been. If you think you know everything about alternative soul and psych-pop of our time, forget it all and let’s start this journey with TRAQUAIR.
From the very beginning, the track comes alive to the sound of a nervous, trembling beat of atmospheric synth pads, followed by a beat of a heartbeat-like bass drum setting the gloomy and calculated pace of the song before any lyrics have been heard. Lyrically, “Girl, Your Mind Is a Dangerous Game” unravels the enthralling yet scary process of falling in love with someone whose sharp intellect and emotional instability make him or her impossible to predict and catch. The character in the song might not have known this beforehand, but by the end, he admits that this woman’s mind is a dangerous game and/or place. Musically speaking, the song’s instrumental work is a true example of the tension and relaxation technique. Its driving and mysterious energy is fueled by such elements as dark electronic sounds, shining arpeggios, and the low-end beats of the groove. The vocals in this track are dangerously mesmerizing and captivating. They are performed in a seductive whispering tone. For the listener, the result is completely irresistible and entrancing.
Coming in at number two is the song “What if what’s to come is the only Attraction”. Rather than building slowly, the song erupts from silence into an intense shower of rapid-fire strumming of the electric guitar as well as a snap and drive to its tempo that pushes the song into action with brutal momentum. Thematically, the song digs deeply into the emotional paralysis of romantic anticipation, exploring the painful reality of how a daydream of a future moment often surpasses the reality of the now. Lyrically, the song explores how humans live only in tomorrow, making promises about what will come next as a way to escape from their current stagnation. The sound of the song is an electrifying clash of indie rock fervor and modern electronics. The vocals are intense, urgent, and powerfully emotional, riding the wave of the tempo with anthemic fervor. Instrumentation builds consistently throughout, with synthesizers adding rich melodies over pulsing drum loops.
The mood gets very visceral as the song begins with the raw feeling of acoustic string scraping, followed by a brooding bass that beats in the background like an underground pulse until it expands into a big, cinematic soundscape. The lyrics in the title track of “Held the Pulse” examine the intense experience of control and survival and all the burden of maintaining the survival of a person or object when the world around is falling apart. The title track examines the mental stress of being the only one to remain in control in a crisis situation, holding on tightly to the world that is crumbling down from under one’s feet. In this character’s life, it looks like no one ever steps up to take the blame for anything except him. Having such a responsibility in your life might seem easy in the beginning, but over time, it can be very lonely and burdensome, and it can take a toll on this character’s mind and well-being. Musically, the track is rich, brooding, and emotional. The vocals are incredibly raw and verging on the verge of cracking but then breaking into moments of great strength, which goes well with the swelling sound of atmospheric guitars and vibrating synth pads. For the listener, it is a heavy and cathartic track that provides a lot of validation to those who have been in such situations.
Everything changes around as the song kicks off with an intense, funk-driven slap-bass riff and an impressive cascade of classic synth-pop guitar sound that just makes your feet want to move from the get-go. In terms of lyrics, the track “Broad Daylight” defies all the clichés connected with mystery and nighttime passion as it brings everything into light, exposing all of your secrets, insecurities, and desires for everyone to see. The song is a declaration of Shame, as the persona in the song admits that some things happened or that he did that were never meant to be seen. As for its musicality, the song is a shining example of rhythmical alternative pop with a twist. The vocals are filled with incredible charisma and are performed with an unbelievable level of confidence that makes you feel like being in the presence of a superstar. The instrumentation is outstanding and includes solid percussion, bright bass, and electronic elements.
The last song of the album provides an incredible cinematic ending to the EP through the use of an amazing combination of an orchestral wave of guitar sounds and drums that create an atmosphere of immense anticipation, which resembles a sunrise on the horizon line. Speaking about the lyrics, “A Great Time to Be Alive” presents a deep and very well-deserved reflection on contemporary existence, which sees a recognition of the chaos, tiredness, and madness of the world and, on top of that, the decision to embrace life despite it by choosing radical joy, resilience, and gratitude for the miracle of being able to see all this. In terms of the music, “A Great Time to Be Alive” represents an awesome masterpiece of the organic instruments merged with a great sound of explosive and uplifting electronics. Lead vocals seem to be absolutely fantastic since their emotional charge moves from the thoughtful whisper to the powerful chorus. In general, this song makes a listener feel overwhelmed by closure and hope that comes after listening to the entire EP.
Produced, recorded, and mixed by the genius himself, Roscoe Wilson, who made The Colts and Anton and the Colts possible, this amazing EP glides across an incredible canvas of melody, harmony, and sheer amazingness. From the mesmerizing razor-sharp tension of “Girl, Your Mind Is a Dangerous Game,” via the gospel-flavored transcendence of the title track “Held the Pulse,” all the way down to the bruised defiance and hopefulness of “A Great Time to Be Alive,” this amazing EP delves into all the complex, chaotic intricacies of modern life in the city. It evokes the kind of magical atmosphere somewhere in between the glamorous, faded Hollywood dreams, hard truths, and incredible, melody-laden nights. And the rarity of the EP is in its perfection. There is no single moment in this EP that can be criticized in any way or even skipped by accident. TRAQUAIR has fully deserved my deepest respect and earned a permanent spot in my playlist for a fanboy that I’ve become. I am waiting impatiently for many more great musical journeys with him.
Stream the “Held the pulse (EP)” on Bandcamp.
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