A stomping four-to-the-floor beat underpins the beating heart of the unusually-titled Firebrick.
‘You are a washed-out firebrick tone’ goes the lyric – in an energetic delivery that has real vim and vigour. It’s a lyric that locks in perfectly with the rhythm and feel of the melody at each point that it occurs, making a quirky and insistent hook of every moment – and I was instantly intrigued.
I now feel a word of explanation on this point is necessary. A firebrick typically has a deep, vibrant red tone, and this lyric deals with a strong, passionate character who is having her colour eroded because of her interactions with the men in her life.
The story-telling is instant: ’12 years old / And you’re one role model’. It’s unusual for this kind of electro pop to have such a meaningful message with such unique imagery – and it’s delivered with a real edge here. The tropical-flavoured percussive keys keep things chopping along, but really – it’s all about the vocals…
The production makes hooks out of little vocal ad-libs, and there are plenty of white noise sweeps and additional rhythmic trips, trickles and voices that keep proceedings moving along nicely. Smart voicings and different little flourishes of colour illustrate a savvy pop nous that elevates the arrangement, with all elements earning their place in a mix that’s ever-evolving and deftly handled.
