New Ruins by JKITTEN
‘New Ruins’ by Jkitten starts out with some heavily modulated vocals that tend to throw you off for a second in how off-putting they sound at first. But it’s when the breadth of her dreamy Synthpop fully hits that you appreciate the ethereal beauty that’s on offer here. Were these vocals a production misstep or meant as a way to catch your attention?
Well, doesn’t really matter because if it’s the only bad thing you can say about an album then you know you got a pretty good album on your hands. This smooth dreamy synthpop carries echoes of the coldness of New Wave to emphasise an overall slightly darker, more melancholic sound. A sound that is sparse in nature yet filled with so much beauty and emotion so that it doesn’t feel devoid of heart and soul.
There is a sadness that resonates throughout the EP, both in the accompanying synths and the lyrics: there are stories being told about feeling alone even in company, about intoxication and depression and about an undefined search for something to make one feel complete.At least that is what I can hear between the lines, which brings up my main criticism of this work: the vocals are so distorted by effects, that it honestly became hard for me to understand many of them. This works stylistically for this kind of electro-pop, of course, and it sounds interesting; however, I still wish there were lyrics provided anywhere. Because there is something there, a mood and atmosphere, that I find incredibly appealing. There is a constant up and down, sorrow followed by elation and a certain somber joy.
The synths are utilized a bit like a foundation on which the vocals can build, but there are surprising melodies that pop up for a few seconds, before they go back into hiding. Another surprise was the guitar that gets used sparingly, but effectively. All of this combined makes each song feel fuller than they really are and the tracks go by much more quickly than I anticipated.
I think, that is also the biggest compliment I can make Jkitten about this album: it left me slightly unsatisfied, but in a way that I wanted more of what was provided. And that might actually be the very sensation that the artist wanted to convey.
I have a term I use occasionally, Posh Pop. and this E.P fits that perfectly. It’s low key but really does worm into your ear. It’s weird because I get an icy digital aesthetic but it has a real warmth if you let it wash over you. It’s ethereal, delicate and balletic and the strength in the fragility is almost overwhelming.
The only sticking point for me is that 4 tracks just isn’t enough. Or is it? Sometimes the choice to limit is an artistic one and shows real musical intelligence.
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