Clubbing retro synths with a very contemporary pop production, ‘Never Been A Smooth Ride’ by Paul Frazer Clarke in collaboration with Elle Sorren is the kind of song that could be played right in the middle of a night out on the dancefloor.
The song feels like a liminal space between fun and grooves, and vulnerability that brings us face to face with the truths of our heart that we try to run away from. The production stays in line with its emotive quality of the lyrics and vocals through its synths and electronic beats and guitar riffs that have that right amount of vibrancy and energy to them. The song starts off with 80s inspired synths with a modern undertone to them, that immediately takes you back to the soundtracks of the recent coming-of-age films and series. The echoey nature of the production and the vocals lend the song a very expansive quality, because of constricting and tightening its sound, it gives it a freeness and a lightness. To achieve this quality electronic pop productions is quite tough, but Clarke does it, and does it really well.
The retrospective, introspective quality of the lyrics give the song the depth that lines it up with the production. Sorren’s vocals do complete justice to the emotionality of the song, as they range between stating, questioning, acceptance, and frustration and everything that lies in between those emotions. You will want to drive through long roads, with the cold air biting your face, and with Sorren vocals in your ears and its emotions nestling in your heart.