★ ★ ★ ★ out of 5
It's been nearly a year since we first heard the magic coming from pop/electronic duo Wrathschild, comprised of indie pop artists Simon Curtis and Wolfy, when the newly formed act unleashed their debut single "Fall Into Love" to the music world. The song was an uplifting pop number for all their lovestruck listeners, but that was just their beginning.
The duo followed their debut single up with "Angeles", a track where the two artists express their love/hate relationship with Los Angeles, and a unique cover of "Break Free" by Ariana Grande. Both impressive and enjoyable creations.
Fast forward to February 2015 and Wrathschild present their long-awaited debut extended play, Birds, featuring seven tracks, including the aforementioned "Fall Into Love" and "Angeles". Curtis and Wolfy trade off verses while being supported by intriguing pop/dance production which should please their devoted following and attract an entirely different audience.
The talented artists allow their impressive vocal abilities to play off each other instead of compete for the spotlight, allowing "Fall Into Love" to become a soaring pop piece which describes a classic love only found in 80s movies. "Cuz my morning breathe and your walk of shame don't get my heart racing," Curtis beautifully sings before the memorable chorus, dedicated to those lovesick individuals, comes blasting out.
"Phoenix" is an inspiring empowerment anthem wrapped up tightly in delicious late 90s dance production, a great formula for Wrathschild to effortlessly excel. Wolfy handles the first minute of the track perfectly, Curtis comes in with pure innocence on his delivery before they both meet up again on the infectious, soaring chorus. Everything about the song works wonders, just wish it wasn't so short.
The duo express love for their significant others on "Everest", where the artists sing they would do just about anything to be in the arms of their current flames. The brightest aspect of the track lies within the solid songwriting. "You shocked me with your touch, now I don't want to wait another day," Wolfy sings as the production is scaled back for a moment, before it blasts off into the skies again on the chorus.
Things take an eerie, intergalactic turn on "Mars", a crazy, chaotic experiment that unfortunately gets a tad repetitive on the electronic chorus and in the end does not become as memorable as the preceding tracks. The vocal performances from Wrathschild have more of a rough edge to them, the highlight of the number, but the crowded sound becomes too much for the song and listeners get lost.
"Birds" appears to be a message of personal perseverance and following one's dreams. The production is immediately intriguing as it incorporates slight trap influences and interesting beat drops. For being the shortest track on the project, the song packs a strong punch and finds a way to encompass the listener. It will be hard to keep this one off repeat.
On "Angeles", Curtis and Wolfy sing of the triumphant highs and tragic lows of living in the city of dreams. Written about each of their personal experiences in Los Angeles, the artists trade off on the well-written verses while coming together for a soaring chorus which gives the new effort a truly heavenly vibe. Both give commendable performances on an honest pop song that stays true to their sound and style.
The new EP closes out with one of its brightest moments, the opera-styled "Cosmonaut", which immediately grabs the listener's attention within the first few notes. The exciting build up leads to a rap-like performance from Wolfy (think Karmin) while Curtis provides haunting background vocals. "Oh cosmonaut, all the love that I want, all the love that I need, is waiting in your arms," the duo belts on the chorus. It highlights the artists' chemistry and love for theatrics.
Birds is an exciting and fulfilling debut effort from the talented Wrathschild. We knew the two artists could find solo success in the pop genre, but hearing their always impressive vocals harmonize beautifully on each track allows them to accomplish something they could not before. The duo has clearly been inspired by the pop/dance music of the late 90s and early 00s, however, they have incorporated those influences in an effective way where they don't come off as cheesy or worn out. Besides the impressive narrative songwriting, Wrathschild have amped up the production, and though it can get in the way at times, it provides a fun, thrilling new experience that many are sure to enjoy.
Tracks to Hear: "Phoenix", "Everest", "Angeles" and "Cosmonaut"
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