Track Reviews // 0171 - SMTHN RL


15th April 2019
2nd single (Independent)

0171 are a duo from Hackney who recently snuck up on streamers with a gorgeous, metronomic debut single that seemed to pull from a significantly more varied range of influences than the ubiquitous electronic R&B/soul acts of today.

At once theatrical and digital, hesitant and intimate, the track garnered a murmur of recognition across the net and the pair’s development in new track “SMTHN RL” will only amplify that.

These are hypnagogic bedroom grooves augmented by a soulful grip on melody and an undeniably post-millennium veneration of sound that can be heard still from Ariana Grande to Rina Sawayama (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKLxvdFtlZE). The distinct production of each ticking and swooning element creates a swirling cavern for Joe Bedel-Brill and Georgie Hoare to whisper like Justin or wail like Britney, both work.

These mingled, organic vocal performances weren’t so evident on debut ‘1000 Words’ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhH1I80E0X8) and they reveal a subtler shade to 0171’s appeal. Turning from paranoid androids to swaggering Scream-era Janet Jacksons (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P4A1K4lXDo) and turning on a serious groove. The warping dynamics alternately drown and surface an echoed piano fill which gives way to pulsing arcade synths reminiscent of French IDM monsters Daft Punk and Kavinsky as the track ends. These are not comparisons to be taken lightly, but with two tracks out that combine a cerebral and delicate touch with powerful emotion in distinct styles, they’re not far off.

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