Coming straight in with vocals, dreamy pads, billowing synth bass and crisp 808s, Paralyzed (sic) sets out its stall early on.
I’m going to use the word dreamy again, because the vocal arrangement is absolutely that, as well as inventive, colourful, loved and original. It’s also somewhat reminiscent of the yearning qualities of the vocals of a-ha’s Morten Harket. We also get wonderful use of digital percussion, arpeggiating synths and a sublime melodic set of choices for the topline. The choices are often unexpected, a little serpentine, and regularly delightful.
‘To help you to forget / The stress and the anger / And feel lucky for a moment or two’ – what a wonderful, unabashed and open sentiment. I find it truly mawkish when artists write what I would categorise as ‘worthy’ songs, weighed down by a pompous sense of importance. This song, however, feels light, honest, unadulterated and, frankly, uplifting and joyous. Whilst it’s clearly been carefully crafted, there’s a deft lightness of touch on display here, and Paralyzed delivers a focused treatise on obsession.
It’s all over in 3 minutes, and as it winds down to its beautifully-realised conclusion, I’m immediately wanting it to segue into Hasz’s next track and am just as quickly disappointed when this doesn’t happen.
It’s a fresh sounding track that delivers on every level: sonically interesting, beautifully and sensitively sung and with a great arrangement and panache that’s bordering on being embarrassingly confident!
Download or stream the single here. Find & follow Jon Hasz on Instagram.
