Physical

TL;DR REVIEW: I’m obsessed. You will be too.

I hadn’t been feeling like writing about music, or much else recently, but then I listened to this album and immediately knew I had to tell everyone I could about how incredible it is. And as my Instagram story can attest to I really am trying my darnedest to.

Physical are Julia Catherine Parr (Black City Lights) and Nik Brinkman (Junica and Over The Atlantic), an alt pop duo from Wellington, New Zealand. Ride it Out is their debut album, and at only 8 tracks the album isn’t asking you for a long term listening relationship but after one listen you will be, as it sinks its addictive pop hooks into your brain. It’s the best kind of bedroom pop – revealing but elusive, moody but upbeat, atmospheric but still something you will want to sing loudly in the car. The album packs more of a punch than the normal dreamy electropop that seems to often emerge in New Zealand, and is reminiscent of US band MS MR. The pair describe the album as “about emotional survival and staying up late; a shout out to their deep mutual love for future R&B and synth pop and heavily influenced by musical heroes like Banks and Dev Hynes.”

I have only been listening to the album for about a day and a half but I am positive it is one of my favourite albums of 2017. As of writing this I have had the track “In My Bedroom” on repeat all day. If this song doesn’t make you want to dance around your own bedroom with a hair brush microphone, you might want to check you haven’t accidentally sold your soul to Milhouse, because you are clearly dead on the inside. “Islands”, a lush electronic track drenched in longing and regret about a failed relationship, is another excellent song. But to be fair all of the songs are solid and there no weak links, or missteps on this album for me. I have already added the whole thing to my summer playlist and I have big plans to listen to it on any car trip I take over December through to February.

Now if you excuse me I have to go dance to “In My Bedroom” some more. - Amy Jessica Marr

New Zealand duo Physical crafts an avant-garde synthpop sound that is introspective, smoky, and multi-dimensional. Their debut record Ride It Out explores the emotional weight we carry as we battle with affairs of the heart and mind. It is the portrayal of genuine, feisty jealousy (“Ride It Out”) and self-destructive lust (“Breaking The Rules”). Physical takes you from the extreme ups and downs of your emotions, but never in-between – these two are certainly not half-assers. This all-or-nothing approach makes Ride It Out a stressfully euphonious experience where the airy melody and rated R honesty strips every emotion at its naked core. - Aupium