Lexytron, a husband-wife musical duo based in New Zealand, have released an album that transcends expectations! Drenched in alt-pop in every way imaginable – from glittery funk to dreamy synth-pop, shoegaze to theatricality – Something New is unabashedly confident about how it feels.
Kiss Me Quick starts with a heavy synth-pop, dreamy feel as Lexy’s vocals float above the rest of the track. Its reverberating vocals and untamed guitars lingering in the background give the track a distinctly retro feel, while the drums play a large role in bringing the energy, propelling the song forward. The energy is picked up further by Elevator, an infectious, bouncy track that’s reminiscent of a 90s alt-pop anthem, or the opening to a family sitcom. Its refrain (“I’m going up in an elevator, going up, I’m going up, I’m going out of my mind…”) is peak earworm material; the whole track is delivered with so much joy and energy, it makes you want to skip through hallways.
Disco Jenny shifts gears into a funky, glittery track that teeters on the edge of sounding like musical theatre; it’s some parts spoken word poetry, some parts confessional, and its scrambled-ness delivers a track that’s unpredictable, ____, and retro. Speaking of retro, Retro steals the show with its a cappella snaps, claps, and “R E T R O” melodies. It takes the glitter a step further, its lines stretching and contorting over bars and measures with an endearing free-spiritedness. Every Little Thing is similarly carefree; it’s sunny, warm, and sweet without going over into saturation. It’s the song to listen to on a picnic blanket under bright skies.
Your Love pivots the album into something more orchestral, with its staccato delivery and arrangements that move up and down scales with precision; it transitions back into melancholic pop by the chorus, and its strong and controlled vocals are what make this track truly memorable. Is It Because moves the album into an angst held up by pining lyrics and vocals. It possesses all the fuzz, lushness, and heavy guitar typical of shoegaze – it’s hazy both in production and theme. It leaves you at the beginning of Another Lover, a track rooted in indie pop-rock. The repetition of “I don’t want another lover” is guaranteed to make you want to shake your hair out, scream-singing it at a stage on which Lexytron performs, while My Backstage Life is a simplistic folk-pop ballad, clearly a space Lexytron feels comfortable in.
Like a cold plunge, the album leads us to Stone Cold. It’s chilly, arranged like a track by The Cranberries, with the same instrumental pacing and ethereal vocals; it goes deep into accepting melancholia and is cathartic in its release. The album leaves you with Laughing From Above, a memento of the emotional arc each track has contributed to – it’s ethereal, resilient, and satisfied. Overall, Something New definitely lives up to its name: it pushes the boundaries of alt-pop, taking you through a story of love, longing, and acceptance. Listen here!