Sweet, yet serious; sassy, but sincere. These are just two of the contrasts one can use to describe Valley Hush’s exceptional new EP Don’t Wait. The second record from producer Alex Kaye and vocalist Lianna Vanicelli — following last September’s To Feel Small — is a multidimensional offering that demonstrates the wide range of styles the electro-pop duo are capable of covering. The five-song album is a wild ride that makes both personal admissions and political assertions and that challenges the listener to keep up with the band’s ever-fluctuating vibe, creating an incomparable listening experience sure to keep things interesting.
The album’s tone is set by its opening track “Children.” As the only single from the EP, it was released in the middle of April and provided a glimpse of what we had to look forward to on the rest of the project. Set to an upbeat backdrop of bubbly synths, the song provides critical commentary about the state of youth today, focusing on their lack of awareness and callow materialism. This frustrated sentiment is expressed bluntly by Vanicelli singing, “Open up your eyes you ungrateful little shits.” Though social analysis and pop production may seem like an incongruous combination, the result is a track that actually delivers a severe denouncement without alienating listeners. Valley Hush have found an extremely effective manner to air their grievances and possibly make people think twice about their actions.
Following the surprisingly sunny criticism of “Children” comes “Black Sea,” a slightly menacing evaluation of all-consuming love. The song starts with “If you’re in love then you need to give me everything/ You really love me well then you owe me everything.” This position is repeated over the course of the song, leaving no doubt in your mind that Vanicelli means business. While “Children” relied on buoyant, shiny synths, “Black Sea” employs a gritty combination of guitar and crashing cymbals juxtaposed with Vanicelli’s delicate voice. The result is a raw, powerful track that proves the band aren’t just a one-trick pop pony.
“Healthy Hours” sees a return to the bright sounds of the opening track and speaks to the anxiety and exhaustion faced by anyone not lucky enough to be born with a silver spoon in hand. The song is sure to resonate with people who feel like they devote every waking hour of their day to making ends meet. It’s almost startling how accurately the track reflects the rise-and-grind approach to life so many of us take. It would be depressing if it weren’t so damn catchy.
The band’s vulnerable, emotional side is uncovered in “Raw Form,” which focuses on the simplicity of a relationship in its most honest iteration. The instrumentation is sparse and minimal, casting Vanicelli’s sweet crooning in sharp relief. The lyrics are presented in a manner that seems more like a stream of consciousness than a carefully constructed melody, conveying the effortlessness of coexistence. The ethereal combination of the subdued instrumentation and heartfelt vocals results in a song that exists somewhere between a serenade and a lullaby. It’s hard not to feel some sense of longing for the ease of companionship described by Vanicelli when she sings, “Don’t want to feel the need to talk endlessly/ About what we’re doing and what we’ve done/ Because time is so precious when we are together/ It’s blinding by nature in raw form.”
The final track, “The River,” starts with a slightly sultry guitar and the hint of something exciting as Vanicelli promises, “It’s morning, and today is one for the pages.” Just when you thought they couldn’t add anything new to their performance, Valley Hush throw in a bluesy element that is unique to this song. Steadily thudding bass acts as the foundation for Vanicelli’s soaring vocals and Kaye’s twanging guitar. The synths — previously the focal point of the arrangements — now act as an additional means of percussion, not melody. As a result, “The River” is the most rock ‘n’ roll track on the album and the final stop on this stylistic roller coaster.
Each track on this EP has its own personality and presents something new and fresh, yet the carefully crafted production leaves each song sounding polished and professional. There may be many different emotions, values, and sounds, but the overall effect is one of cohesion: it is a brutally honest examination of being young and trying to figure everything out. It is personal but relatable, specific but universal. Don’t Wait is just a small sample of all of the things we have to look forward to from Valley Hush.
Valley Hush debut Don’t Wait tonight at the Majestic Cafe alongside Jamaican Queens with the support of Little Animal. Click here to RSVP and find tickets. For further reading, check out our interview with the band. You can stream “Children” below: