- With three years since her last release, Melbourne based songstress Ella Thompson has recently been drawn back to her solo project, releasing her long-awaited EP Hysteria through her own label and arts publication Pool. Having been involved in other notable Australian acts GL, Dorsal Fins and The Bamboos and well into her career as a recording artist, Thompson has clearly used this experience to hone her craft. Hysteria is an enticing array of electro-pop at its finest, an artistic and beautiful offering - everything from the production through to the album artwork has a sensibility and sensitivity to it that you can really tell has been thought out to a tee; it all fits just right.
From the first swell of the synth on title track Hysteria, the listener is engulfed with a sense of familiarity, however with a more refined, subtle production style in comparison to her previous album Janus. Pristine and reverberant vocals likened to Isabella Manfredi (of The Preatures) glide over the top of simple, lo-fi drum samples and short melodic phrases on the synth. Despite the deeper meaning to the lyrics, -how we are conditioned to suppress our emotions and the overcoming of it- the airy, reverb-soaked vocals create an ambience and leave a light touch on such heavy subject matter.
As the EP progresses, the mood becomes more ominous and sensually evocative, with single Snow a slow burner, starting out with sparse production reminiscent of artists like SOHN, with the focus clearly on the dreamy lead vocals. The sporadic piano part is a nice addition, fitting intricately within the lush synth and string tones, providing a sense of grounding to contrast with the powerful soul vocals. Track Dare takes a darker turn into a more bouncy electro-pop feel, with the sub-bass and electro-claps really driving the song before warping into a pulsating and clever use of production in the last chorus. You can just imagine dim lights and a frenzy of bodies pulsating along with the groove, it’s definitely that late night mood kinda feel.
Like coffee to the ears, the adjoining track Follow I Go, is a pleasant break to move from the fun, electro-pop vibe into a more orchestral, melancholic mood, setting things up for the final number, Undine. By far the most interesting chordal structure and dynamic song on the EP, whilst not an obvious choice, it’s surprising this wasn’t also used as a single. It really takes the listener on a dreary and wistful journey, with dramatic strings and piano really creating an eeriness that draws you in. It has a real mysteriousness and sauciness to it that is captivating, and is easily cinematic enough for the climactic moment in any film soundtrack.
The whole Hysteria EP fits together in a nice little package. The production is subtle and seamless and Thompson’s eerie and soulful voice seductively trickles over each track. It’ll be interesting to see where Thompson takes the project from here. While electro-pop is underpinning the majority of what's on offer, there’s also definitely potential for a darker turn to more soundscape production. It’ll be exciting to hear what comes next.
- Kassie Sofia.