EP Review: Meredith ‘Nostalgia’
Brisbane electronic artist Meredith is set to send the world into a flashback frenzy with her emotional debut EP ‘Nostalgia’. There’s just something about Meredith, her distinctive sound is a consistent combination of modest electronica and emotive vocals, but that hasn’t stopped her from making each number unique.
Opening track Levels shows off Meredith’s penchant for irresistibly modern production. The eerie sound of wind-chimes, extraterrestrial synthesisers, and breathy harmonies seems a natural frame for her quirky, Gossling-esque vocals. Her smoky chest register shines in the chorus beneath a smooth octave harmony, proving that a unique tone and a catchy melody are all you really need to make a hit.
“It’s Meredith’s piercing lyrics that steal the show, telling the familiar tale of a broken heart in perfect rhythmic timing.”
With a subtle yet persuasive rhythm as the only constant in Jumpin Beds, Meredith demonstrates an impressive knack for mixing it up. The track starts with a refreshingly uncomplicated combination of organ sounds, breathy vocals, and preppy harmonies. Her sultry lower range throughout lends a subtle, quirky RnB vibe to a fresh electro-pop number, but it’s her piercing lyrics that steal the show, telling the familiar tale of a broken heart in perfect rhythmic timing: “Ticking time like a time bomb/Wondering if this is all gonna take long/Keeping up appearances shouldn’t be hard/While I’m working out if I can fix my broken heart”.
Supported by a steady beat, tasteful synthesisers and light vocal harmonies mesh like cogs in Running Asleep to create the kind of tune that could spawn its own teenage romance movie. Meredith’s breathy high register makes a beautiful addition to an atmospheric tune, lifting the chorus and creating a sweet contrast against the deep synth melody. The song fades out to a hypnotic swell of words and notes, the same melody and lyrics repeated until they’re firmly planted in your brain.
The best way to get Running Asleep out of your head is with the EP’s fourth track How Could You Believe That, another irresistible product of Meredith’s venomous lyrics and infectious melody. It opens with minimalistic production as the spaces subtly fill with glistening synthesisers that maintain the stripped-back vibe until the chorus. There, tasteful vocal harmonies sweeten the deep synth pulse, framing the subtle bitterness and bite in the words, “You tell yourself the only person you’re hurting is you/But how could you believe that?/Picking up the pieces of your heart/Now you can’t go back”. The production layers build slowly until the last chorus where they recede quickly, promising to leave the listener wanting more.
“The final chorus bass harmonies seal the deal, rounding out a tantalising, passion-infused tune and a pretty damn special debut EP.”
Closing track Cleanse My Soul opens to a lilting beat with gravelly synth the only premonition of the soulful tune that will unfold. Meredith’s slow, smooth vocals intertwine beautifully with the syncopated melody as synthesisers fill the spaces between the lines, “Went down/To the river/Cleanse my soul/They told me/You can’t get better/No, you won’t”.
Complex harmonies swell throughout, balancing Meredith’s pure falsetto with grit and depth before the final chorus bass harmonies seal the deal, rounding out a tantalising, passion-infused tune and a pretty damn special debut EP.
Meredith is gearing up to release ‘Nostalgia’ on Thursday 23rd of June in Brisbane. The show promises impress on so many Levels, so don’t miss out, grab your tickets ASAP!
