Ryan Hemsworth - BOY / if u wanna cry
Ryan Hemsworth's latest endeavour on Secret Songs, his label releasing that's been releasing music by him and his friends since 2014, might go down as having some of the most accurate album artwork of all time. The two tracker BOY / if u wanna cry (2023) plays like a neon collage of child-like amusement and creativity. Somehow Ryan even captures the naivete of youth with the sound selection.
The record is chock full of little nostalgic nods, not through samples but through feeling. The juxtaposition between the glassy accents and these rich, saturated chords sits beautifully. Those accents are like getting called back inside on a hot day while the chords sound lush, textured and warm. This hot and cold dynamic works primarily because of his use of effects giving everything its own space, 'BOY' and 'if u wanna cry' can be audibly chaotic without being overwhelming. Through the trembling chords that gush with nostalgia, 'BOY' Paints a picture of rose-tinted contentment While interjecting stabs of excitement. There's a palpable sense of freudenfreude, like when the underdog wins the race. Taking the collage motif further, 'if u wanna cry' interjects more vocals and percussive groves into the format. Instruments switched rapidly, whether stick hits, maracas, white noise, or even synthesised glitches. Trap influences throughout allow for significant emphasis put on the weighty 808s, creating sub friendly low end.
Tracklist:
BOY
if u wanna cry
Label: Secret Songs (2023)
Ryan Hemsworth - BOY / if u wanna cry
