Reviewer: Ciaran Picker
Released: 14th March 2025
Label: Nowhere Special / Thirty Tigers
Four years after the Canadian duo's raw debut ‘BUMMER,’ their sophomore effort sees Cleopatrick adopting a softer approach to delve into themes of insecurity, authority, and nonconformity. Rather than the driving drum beats and heavy, distorted guitars, this album features lo-fi electronica, intricately layered structures, and gentle falsettos. As a reimagining, it nearly succeeds. Melodic tracks enhanced by organic instrumentation, such as ‘BIG MACHINE,’ ‘CHEW,’ and ‘LOVE YOU,’ stand out as the album’s highlights, successfully navigating their newly embraced sound amidst an otherwise disorienting, pixelated compilation. A sense of vulnerability is prominent, conveyed more through the atmosphere than through clarity, with vocals occasionally obscured by excessive production (‘BAD GUY’) and jarring instances of background static (‘HAMMER,’ ‘SOFTDRIVE’). Ultimately, ‘FAKE MOON’ offers a collection of nearly-there moments. Optimistically, it might be seen as a band courageously exploring their limits; critically, it may come off as a polished yet underdeveloped array of concepts. In truth, it occupies a space between these two viewpoints; to paraphrase Neil Armstrong, it may represent a significant leap for Cleopatrick, but they remain a few small steps from fully realizing it.
Benson Boone embarks on a new phase of his music career with “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else,” an energetic pop-rock anthem that marks a lively, positive shift after the worldwide success of his debut single, “Beautiful Things.”
A monumental work of art.
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Icelandic indie folk artist Arny Margret guides us through her deeply moving second album, ‘I Miss You, I Do,’ exploring each track. This work is intimate, delicate, and ambitiously bold, embracing a broader sound while maintaining its raw emotional essence.
Playful, bold, and occasionally surprising, Addison Rae's "High Fashion" presents a unified glimpse into her artistic 'rebranding,' with lyrics centered around themes of luxury.
It may be a significant advancement for Cleopatrick, but they're just a few minor steps from achieving it.