EP Review: BUOY ‘Break’

Sydney electro-songstress BUOY a.k.a. Charmian Kingston is no stranger to success – her debut EP ‘Immersion’ received rave reviews as did her follow-up single Exit, and much the same reaction is expected for her most recent 4-track EP ‘Break’. Likened to other electronic artists including Wafia and Banks, Kingston’s latest release is four solid reasons to keep an ear out for whatever she does next.

Clouds & Rain opens the EP with a deep, brooding synth melody, contrasting beautifully against Kingston’s gentle vocals and the playful high-pitched filler melodies. Her voice, like a mixture of Wafia and Kygo, has both a breathy, emotive quality and a strong high range, earning it the spotlight as the production begins to build leading into the chorus.

Touches of vocal harmony make a subtly eerie addition to a sparse build up, and just after the halfway point an energetic rhythm launches the song into dance territory, all the while making plenty of space for Kingston’s vocals. Constant lyrical repetition allows her to focus on the foundations of the song –  her Jack Garratt-esque production and truly unique vocal tone.

At first it’s impossible to discern the intended beat and rhythm of Kingston’s lead single Exit. Its opening lines border on brave and innovative acapella, featuring only a playful synth melody and busy percussion beneath her vocals. Her soft vocal style proves the perfect vessel for the playful, not-so-innocent lyrics – “Take the exit/On the right/I wanna take you somewhere/While the sun’s bright/Feed the birds/See the water sparkle/And after sunset/Go to my place”.

It’s not until about two minutes in that a warm, brassy synth backing melody kicks in, met by tasteful sampling, and for a few moments everything about the song makes perfect sense. Just when you think you’ve worked it out, the breakdown changes the key and floods the song with brassy synth, and although it suddenly resembles a standard dance tune, it’s anything but.

Her lyrics are hesitant and withdrawn, matched by sparse production and counterbalanced by steady, ever-present beats.

Starting in much a similar way to the previous two tracks, Arctic Ocean launches with ease into modern production, keeping the backing instrumentation sparse and sweet. Only a few seconds in, sampling adds a Flume-like vibe to a song that would otherwise be right at home amongst the sugar-coated R’n’B of the early 2000s thanks to Kingston’s breathy vocals and sophisticated harmonies.

The final track Everything Must Change opens to an intriguing clash of dissonant piano chords against modern production, leaving the listener unprepared for the instant hit of nostalgia brought on by Kingston’s Nora Jones-esque vocals. Her lyrics are hesitant and withdrawn, matched by sparse production and counterbalanced by steady, ever-present beats. Before the halfway point, her classical piano training takes hold, spawning a jazz-infused outpouring. Constant key changes and rhythmic fluctuations leave no doubt that of all four tracks on ‘Break’, Everything Must Change has both the least sense of direction and the most technical poise about it.

BUOY’s ‘Break’ EP is a technically brilliant challenge offering rich rewards to anyone who takes the time to listen. You can catch BUOY performing these tracks live in September – check out the dates below!

BUOY ‘Break’ Tour Dates 

WED 7 SEP
BIGSOUND, Brisbane
WED 14 SEP
Newtown Social Club, Sydney
FRI 23 SEP
Boney, Melbourne

Get Tickets HERE