Sitting in a swirl of gentle collision points – where the intensity of shoegaze is tempered by more dream-pop finesse, where the accessibility of pop (well, a sort of hazy alt-pop at least) meets the more driven sound of indie, where the digital deftness of the synth meets the analog energy of the guitar – it is fair to say that there is a lot to unpack here.
But the skill of CS Hellman and the beauty of “In My Head” is borne out by the fact that even with all those interplays and elements at work, the song is nothing if not sonically sublime and wonderfully accessible.
It sounds like a wonderful tribute to eighties post-punk-pop whilst simultaneously reaching for the future, the balance of which makes it perfect for the here-and-now, fresh yet familiar, ticking boxes in both comfort zones and commercial realms, as well as in adventure and creativity.
Accompanying this lead track is “Love I Left Behind,” a subtler song that tackles those times in life when harmful habits take over and you only realise how out of control things have become when you see the disappointment and heartache in the eyes of those you love.
A brilliant brace of songs and also the perfect showcase of, not just the sonic spectrum across which CS Hellman works, but the emotional depth explored in the songs.
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