Elseware – Fairy Ring
Elseware is a solo producer from Baltimore, Maryland. Incorporating elements of dream pop, indie-rock, electronica and jangle pop, the result is a mixed bag. The EP is so short it’s easiest to break it down track by track.
Glossolalia is an experimental drum & bass song that sounds like it was recorded in an afternoon. Despite its neat charm, it fails to leave an impression due to its underdeveloped composition.. The title track, Fairy Ring, is an admirable standout among the short EP. Irrespective of being a short track, it has a creative progression and plenty of personality. If the rest of the album was a solid as the title track, it’d be an easy recommendation. Esther’s Song rocks its swirling arps and dazzling percussion, introducing a more upfront and personal voice. The track may have worked much better if the phonation was less muddled and the vocals clearer. Lastly, the emo-rock vibe makes Lily’s Song a standout in comparison to its electronic predecessors, but the poppish synth-pop of Father of the Man is a lazy trope to fall on. When Fairy Ring focuses on its noisy elements, it’s certainly more alluring.
During its highs, notably the second and third track, it’s quite a satisfying experience. Unfortunately, the album relies heavily on a laid-back aesthetic in lieu of refinement; the resulting songs are short and diluted. If the tracks were longer and more fleshed out, they’d leave a much greater impression. While there’s evidently a solid mix of influences, one can’t help but feel the album is trying too hard to be cool and appealing in line with the artist’s aesthetic, as opposed to sonically innovating. Perhaps with time, patience and refinement, Elseware will be able to produce something a little more substantial.
Bad
Listen to it here:
Elseware – Fairy Ring
