Borrowing the keyboard aesthetic of a Tame Impala album, On My Mind is a very cool piece of electro pop that is chock-full of aural delights. Not the least of which is the sweet and clever, intricate stacks of vocals.
Showcasing just the right mix of laid-back swagger and precision, the capture of vocals includes ambient noise, mouth noises and breaths that work together to retain a very human performance over the programmed groove. This frequent choice of syncopated rhythms within the backing vocals, coupled with tight harmony for other sections, is pretty breath-taking (pun intended!). I’m put in mind of Imogen Heap’s work on both her solo output and particularly with Frou Frou. Where On My Mind differs from that is with the more organic nature of its musical backdrop.
Some beautiful melodies slide in and out of each other as keyboard voices flange and modulate to create pads of shifting ambience, which tell their own story and create subtle interest in the background. A rhythm section that features finger clicks melded with the sharp crack of a snare and a surprisingly nimble muted bass voice that dances around the arrangement with joyful dexterity is a winning combination. There even appears to be the reverb-drenched sound of electric-guitar-being-unplugged employed to enhance the syncopation as a spot effect in quieter moments!
The whole comes together to weave a quite intoxicating spell. ‘When was the last time / We talked – just you and I?’ opines the lead vocal, as the melody snakes around in a sensuous, warm wash of human and synthetic instruments. Truly great arranging and sharp production elevate a memorable tale of longing.
Download the single via iTunes.
