cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/51533460

Blasting production, slashing vocals, heartfelt heartbreak.

Surface Tension is absolutely brilliant.

Every track is packed with granular guitar-heavy production and thrumming bass accompanied by small and sharp drums. It feels like driving really fast down the highway; the rusted engine shakes, trembles, and rattles, almost falls apart but somehow stays together for just another mile. It's a raw sort of feeling, like Dev is grabbing you by the shoulders and looking you in the eyes while she screams her lungs out at you. Still, she manages to find a few moments to take a step back, like in FACE and WHAT ABOUT YOU, which feature restrained acoustic guitars, before delving back into the thick production that's the hallmark of the project.

The vocals also leave nothing to be desired in both performance and variety. Dev is known for her generally weird demeanour and delivery, and she does go some rather weird places with her performance on several songs. DON'T PINCH ME might be the most intense example of this, but other tracks - like MEDIA TRAIN's second screaming half - also illustrate this rather well. I can totally understand how this might turn some people off to the tracks, but I think she always manages to strike that balance of artistic explosion and connection to the very emotional themes of the songs. She has no issue getting melodic - just listen to BROKE YOUR COVER and STUCK AGAIN - and she can keep a flow, but what really makes the album is how she mixes all the disciplines to paint this vivid picture of despair, frustration, and resignation, while never fully letting go of her silly personality.

It's almost paradoxical how she manages to merge such seriously nasty criticism of her failed attempts at love and hilariously quippy lines.

Speaking of failed love; That's undeniably and unmistakably the theme of the record. Every song talks about it - which honestly could get a bit repetitive, if not for this album being rather short at just over 20 minutes - sometimes ravaging her past partners' blatant disrespect and failure to commit, sometimes more seriously introspective and questioning her own meek behaviour and lack of determination, while staying stuck in an unfulfilling half-relationship.

The one issue I have with her lyrics are that... Well... They can get a little awkward - and I don't mean in the emotional sense, but in the technical sense. The words just don't quite fit sometimes; she does get too absurd and silly at times, which does hurt. DON'T PINCH ME is by far the biggest offender, though MEDIA TRAIN does also get a little too crazy, in my opinion. It still has some appeal, but I feel like the insanity of the words and the mismatched-jigsaw nature of the verses take away from the overall emotional weight of the album, as a whole. That's, honestly, my only criticism of the project.

Mind you, I don't think any song on here is a skip - I'd actually argue that skipping any song here would be tantamount to sacrilege - but it does have low points; that's all I'm saying.

Now, I'd like to mention the MVs. I usually don't comment on them (or even watch them...) but this is one of those rare cases where watching sincerely adds to the experience. Every song has an MV and they're all insane - either in concept or in eclectic execution - but they're all incredible. The visuals are full of personality; you can really tell Dev loved making them. If you're like me and usually skip the videos, consider checking these out anyway. It's worth it, I swear!

I've listened to the whole thing front to back more times than I've bothered to count.

What do you think?

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Best song: DROP YOUR COVER
Worst song: DON'T PINCH ME
Rating: 4/5

Listen on YouTube!