<p><span><span>- With aggressive, industrial-inspired, electronic production and soft vocals that cascade and transform to complement, <em>Slicing Shadows</em>, the new EP from Sydney producer PRINCI is a darkly beautiful affair. It’s PRINCI’s first project since her 2018, self-titled debut and sees PRINCI take inspiration from a variety of genres from trap to PC Music to noise rock; all her efforts devoted to enhancing this electronic spider’s web.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>In the EP’s titular and opening track, PRINCI greets the listener with pitched up, siren-like synths that recall <em>Yeezus</em> by <strong>Kanye West</strong> and the work of <strong>Arca</strong> and <strong>IC3PEAK</strong>. As the track propels forward, this heavy production is contrasted with melodic, auto-tuned vocals that fill the space with an ambient buzz. Likewise the harrowing <em>Keep On</em> features metallic percussion that grows from a dark beginning to a euphoric climax in which the production harmonises with PRINCI’s modified vocals.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>The modified vocals used throughout <em>Slicing Shadows </em>are syrupy and tender, straddling a delicate balance between too much and too little. Though I do wonder, in a world with <strong>100 Gecs</strong> at the extreme, could PRINCI be too much even if she wanted to be? Her voice continues to deliver this electronic euphoria on the tender, ballad inspired cut <em>Never Lonely</em> - a track in which PRINCI delivers a refreshingly mellow spin on her sound.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>The project’s outro track, aptly titled <em>I Guess That’s It</em>, continues on the same downtempo wavelength as <em>Never Lonely</em>. Though the lack of production besides a gentle beat and drowned out synths, makes for a rather flat final note, there’s a comfort in PRINCI closing her EP with the polar opposite of its stark opening track.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Whether or not a true balance of lightness and darkness is struck in this project, it’s almost irrelevant. For PRINCI, <em>Slicing Shadows </em>is a statement; an expression of her own, genre-free, vocoded and unique utopia.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>- Sean Tayler.</span></span></p>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2777629182/size=large/bgcol=f…; seamless><a href="http://shesthatprinci.bandcamp.com/album/slicing-shadows-at-019">Slicing Shadows [AT-019] by PRINCI</a></iframe>