- Local fave Eves Karydas has finally delivered her debut album, after a few long years of name changes, abandoned projects, cross-continental moves and stunning singles. Her first LP summerskin though, is not an album of self discovery, journey or reimagination, but rather a polished collection of sharp, catchy pop tracks that showcase the talent that's been brewing over the last few years.
Album opener Hush is full of shade, brimming with harsh, punchy vocals, a bubbling bass line, driven by a crisp beat. Honest is a worthy follower, with vocal hooks that deserve to be screamed and moody synths that catapult the track into anthem territory. Couch is sultry and moody, encapsulating the feeling of teenage sexual tension through murmured verses and soaring chorus vocals.
Sometimes when an artist releases early singles that are absolute bangers, it makes you worry that the rest of the album will consist of rushed, filler tracks, but Karydas has avoided this pitfall. Damn Loyal and Further Than The Planes Fly slide right into the middle portion of the record with ease and to the uneducated listener, it might be hard to pick which tracks are the usual standouts you hear on a record. There For You and Wildest Ones create a dynamic balance: the downtempo ballads that close off the record don't end it on a downer though, instead they're more of a cathartic release.
For a record that seemingly fits so well within the indie pop genre, there is an air of experimentalism within the samples used on some of the tracks. Interesting chord progressions (as opposed to the overused tropes of regular pop music) create interesting twists and turns within tracks, and the smooth production contrasts with the sharp vocal hooks and catchy beats.
Eves Karydas has pulled you in, hook line and sinker with her ten track LP of atmospheric bangers. Summerskin isn't so much a rebirth - this is a new entity, which is a force to be reckoned with.
- Olivia Shoesmith.