“Lion, Pt 2” is a heady mix of sounds, so succinctly woven together that it is hard to place the song firmly in any one generic pigeon-hole. But then, when has anyone ever successfully moved music on from the safety of such comfort zones? Aided and abetted by Recreational Noise, Flora Lin has created a truly exciting sonic experience here, something that happens less often than you might think in the cozy and conformist world of current music.
Taking scatterings of shoegaze noise and alt-pop poise, threads of intermittent and structure-adverse post-rock sounds, “Lion, Pt 2” is a song that, as required, is both abrasive and accessible, cinematically wide-screen and carefully detailed, hushed, and heartfelt, big and undoubtedly clever.
Thematically, we have a story of someone willing to lose their own identity to protect a loved one, of being able to move past, or at least ignore their own scars and pain, so that they can become that shield for someone, of allowing others to shine at the expense of their sacrifice.
And, as big as the song gets, it is the sonic detail I love – the way that the bass lines come bubbling through the atmospheric spaces, how shards of guitar cut through in the most gentle of fashion whilst in the shadow of big, alt-rock salvos, and of how the vocals switch from intimate whispers to anthemic crescendos effortlessly and instantaneously as the songs dynamic switches.
Sonically and lyrically, this is one of the smartest songs I have heard in a long time.
Website
Facebook
Soundcloud
Bandcamp
YouTube
Instagram
