Twin Shadow, the brain child of 31 year old multi-instrumentalist George Lewis Jnr, has released a new album, Eclipse, a new album released under a major new label, but does this mean a fresh new sound?
This is Lewis’s third album, the first to be released after signing to record industry giant Warner Bros. In past interviews Lewis himself has criticized his previous two albums, both of which were released with past label 4AD, for being too confusing and ‘speaking in code’. He hopes that the new album will cease with the elitist vibe that followed the previous albums and be sounds for the masses.
The first single to be taken from the album, ‘Turn Me Up’, is an emotionally charged track which from the start seems to have R&B roots entangled with Lewis’s electronic past, it creates a mismatch of a song, the drum, piano, synth along with the powerful vocals all becomes too much, a constant battle of genres.
‘To The Top’ has a punchy, feel good vibe which fans of Indie pop groups like Imagine Dragons will love. It’s all about high energy choruses and 80s hairspray metal sounding drums beats which build to a crescendo.
‘Half Light’ and ‘I’m Ready’ are the highlights of the album, both are energetic, lethargic throwbacks to cool 80s sounding soundtracks mixed with Lewis’s smoothly calming, velvety voice.
It’s clear that Twin Shadow has shifted away from his electronic roots and has experimented with different styles and execution. The album is crisp and clean and yet lacks a definitive style, this marks a new direction for Lewis. He has previously stated in past interviews that this album came at one of the most testing times in his life. This is clear to see in this album as opposed to Confess, its dripping in pure emotional angst. Where Lewis goes from here will be the determining factor; if he makes his own musical path or ebbs away.
