Beginning out a decade in the past below the separate DJ monikers of Tessela and Truss, Welsh brothers Tom and Ed Russell made techno and dubstep respectively, changing into two revered figures of the UK dance underground. It was solely when the pair fashioned Overmono within the mid-2010s, although, {that a} sure alchemy was uncovered, mixing their underground beginnings with pop sounds aiming in direction of extra widespread audiences.
Since then, their sound has been streamlined and beefed up over a sequence of EPs and mixes. In 2021, the observe ‘So U Kno’ – a deliciously catchy hammerblow of chopped vocals and metallic beats – might be heard blaring out of competition tents and at raves up and down the nation, changing into one of the omnipresent tracks of the post-lockdown summer season.
On their debut album ‘Good Lies’, the pair retain all of the hallmarks of the mission thus far, whereas unashamedly dialling up the ambition; the hooks listed below are sweeter, the beats tougher. Single ‘Stroll Through Water’ is a glowing tune constructed round a trap-inspired beat and assisted by St Panther, whereas ‘Arla Fearn’ is a fantastically darkish behemoth.
The best comparability for the duo – and with good motive – is Burial, whose icy textures and sharp snare hits are throughout ‘Good Lies’. Whereas William Bevan’s mission is glad to remain within the shadows although, Overmono routinely break via them in direction of pop transcendence. Closing observe ‘Calling Out’ samples Slowthai and and CASISDEAD over thudding two-step, whereas ‘Is U’ contrasts its razor-sharp percussion with a sugary vocal pattern and melodic synths.
This boundary-pushing ethic has additionally been proven in a current slate of remixes, the place they’ve turned Irish songwriter For These I Love’s heavy, grief-ridden masterpiece ‘I Have A Love’ right into a joyous techno romp, and most lately introduced Ed Sheeran’s ‘Eyes Closed’ into their glitchy orbit. They’re quick changing into the go-to duo for pairing dance and radio pop.
Whereas most of ‘Good Lies’ balances sweetness within the melodic vocal samples with harsher percussion, title observe is deliciously heat all through. On it, they take a pattern from the lo-fi ‘No Hurt’ by XL-signed pop duo Smerz and expertly flip it right into a brilliantly catchy hook. It’s not a stretch in any respect to think about it bursting out of competition fundamental stage audio system at evening.
Overmono have described their debut album as “a letter of affection to the journey thus far [that also] marks the place we need to take issues,” and ‘Good Lies’ places the pair on the sting of a serious breakthrough. Its pop-leaning moments are additionally its most enjoyable, and the creativity and talent with which they bridge these worlds is thrilling.
Particulars
- Launch date: Could 12
- Report label: XL Recordings
Originally posted 2023-05-12 00:49:44.