Poly-rhythmic drum hits start off the jazz infused soulful pop ride of If I Could, the new single from duo Jase & Stace. Piano chords shift like waves while guitar licks shine on top, bouncing like sunbeams off the crest of a bottomless ocean – seemingly contrasting yet undeniably fitting.
The beat swings, introducing the comforting nostalgia of 60’s and 70’s groove intermingled with pauses and distinct pacing. Jase opens up the verse alongside jazzy chords (utilizing that extra 7th note, which I love), giving the song fullness without adding too much timbre. The lyrics cover the push and pull nature of love (‘You pick me up then you tear me down’), emblematic of fluctuating tides. Stace adds a whole new vocal range in the second verse with luscious hints that echo the bewildering effect of love, the complete certainty mirrored with second thoughts (‘This is all a waste of time filled with promises that are out of line’).
The drum steadies as the chorus showers gum-drop notes and a sweet choir harmony directly into the ears. Both artists show off their vocal talent in harmonic congruence, repeating the title towards the end, ‘If I could, yes I would’, all amongst sugary ‘ooohs’ and ‘ahhhhs’.
There’s a seductive tension throughout the song, moving in and out with the swaying piano. The speakers seem to know the relationship should end but neither can fully get away, stuck in that toxic whirlpool that only the tornado of love can create. The song takes a nuanced approach to love, covering the addictive-like tendency of constantly needing the attention of one specific person – a person that has immense power to create pleasure and proportionate pain. In a slight contradiction to the overall theme, the duo solidifies their irrefutable musical compatibility in ‘If I Could’, providing jazz-candy for the pop-loving soul (and let’s be honest – we all love pop, hence the origin from ‘popular’).
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