Proudly self-produced, British duo The Death of Pop returns with “Who You Are/Who You Were”, a compelling double single that materializes two distinct visions of the same musical spark. Brothers Angus and Oliver James have crafted a virtuosic showcase of the “re-think,” using this release to examine how a song’s DNA, its perceptions and creative impulses, mutates during the volatile process of composition and mixing. It functions as a dual meditation on change, where the same starting point diverges into two paths defined by sharp structural and timbral variations.
This contrast is most evident in the lyrical shift from present to past tense, transforming the narrative from an immediate confrontation to a ghostly recollection. One iteration leans into the band’s signature “janglegaze” with lush, swirling atmospheres that cushion the blow of the lyrics, while the other strips back the layers to reveal a more skeletal, rhythmic urgency that mirrors the discomfort of fading identity. By tracking and mixing the pieces entirely within their own domestic studio, a practice they have refined since their early days using gear like the Tascam 424 Portastudio, the band maintains a level of artistic freedom rarely found in polished commercial releases.
This DIY sovereignty ensures that their signature toolkit remains untainted, blending modulated guitars that shimmer with a trademark seasick charm alongside dense synth textures and an ethereal vocal delivery. This release is more than just new music; it is a thoughtful exploration of how the same creative impulse can burn in entirely different colors depending on the hands that stoke the flame. Let’s hope there is a full-length in store.
