some of the album's best moments, however, come from the non-singles "another thing" is an infectiously catchy romp with an 80s snare sample that brings back nostalgia that I'm not old nor experienced enough to feel, while "all night long" finds Sagar using his voice to its upper limits, and his songwriting to decent use as the spooky beginning chords merge with a soothing synth melody. "just like my" is probably the most mundane of the tracklist, as Sagar meanders through lyrics about a pair of shoes (or pants) that he just got while "nothing could be better" has a nice rap-like bounce and swing that kept me engaged throughout the track. lead single "Like Mariah" is the most upbeat of the songs as the wish of stardom is sung in the likeness of the star referenced in the title. but as Sagar finds himself wishing he had something else to do, I find myself thinking the same as his lyrics try to make the most basic observation about this generation being stuck in their cell phones (something everyone has thought as soon they look around with their newly dead phone in their hands). opening instrumental early begins with the twinkling of birds and the "early" (pun intended) notes of the morning before sliding into the sly "anything at all", which has one of the most infectious melodies I've heard in a while. that being said, it's also some of Sagar's weakest songwriting. while 2017's "fresh air" was a bedroom pop/lo-fi r&b tape of laidback love songs, helium is a synth and snare filled half hour with some of the most personal songs Homeshake's made yet. The album is easy to get swept up in, but the slacker rock subtleties give the listener something to chew on.Like Peter Sagar's three albums that came before it, helium is another venture into a different part of the huge spectrum that is Like Peter Sagar's three albums that came before it, helium is another venture into a different part of the huge spectrum that is alternative/indie rock. Fresh Air offers its own ecology of attention – a push and pull of interruptions and hyper-attention. (“Feeling so out of touch/Staying inside too much” Sagar sings on ‘Every Single Thing’.) That skew towards the personal is what makes this album such a good listen. Even then, this is less lounge music than it is the interior monologue of someone holed up in their apartment. Libidinal and down-tempo, Sagar bounces easily between wispy crooning and sharp falsetto. “Not U” and “Timing”, where Sagar crosses the influences, bringing R&B grove together with arresting melody lines, are two high-points of the album. Scenes, moods, and, moments that are often rather banal are given a whole new sensuous experience.įresh Air wears its influences on its sleeve: Sade, Prince, Broadcast, and Angelo Badalamenti (best known for scoring ‘Twin Peaks’) have all been mentioned. II (He’s Cooling Down)’ starts with a vibrating phone (is it on the table? Inside the couch?) before Sagar details a call: “Open up my phone/Hello/A Voice I haven’t heard/In a little while.” Although they often get drowned out, Sagar’s lyrics (and their delivery) are worth listening to. In a spin on the old telephone love-song trope, ‘Getting Down Pt. ‘Every Single Thing’ opens with distant chatter: “Are you even paying attention to me right now?” a voice asks, before a lovesick Sagar opens up about distraction and obsession. Sagar plays with dreamy, mildly disorienting echoes and impressions of sound, all to great effect. Bits and pieces of sound on the album simulate the feeling of hearing something through a vent, trying to figure out a hum on a city street, a TV through a wall, an odd creek from a floorboard. The source of the sounds on this album always seems unclear. The sonic pallet on the album is striking, for one – bizarre interjections, experimental codas, samples, and even the catchiest synth lines are like auditory hallucinations patched together to create a world of their own. The jangly guitar that defines earlier Homeshake albums (as well as Mac’s sound) is less prominent on Fresh Air, but that doesn’t make the album’s slacker vibe any less disarming. The solo project of Peter Sagar (formerly a guitarist for Mac Demarco), Homeshake is atmospheric, groove-laden synth pop that works quickly and conspicuously to pull listeners into a trance. Fresh Air is never just relaxing – it’s always a little weird, a little sinister, even a little unsettling. Despite how smooth and sensual Homeshake’s music might be, there’s something slightly heavy about it.
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