EP REVIEW: Megumi Acorda -- Unexpectedly
The current landscape of Dream-Pop is ever growing. The subgenre continues to blossom as new acts coming from the internet are turning in their material on Bandcamp and on SoundCloud.
There are dream-pop/shoegaze acts that come off as one-dimensional because of lazy songwriting, and over reliance of special effects that are buried deep in the song, totally abandoning the essence of technical songwriting. Some dream-pop acts got away with it, and as much as melody and structure is concenred, i just can't help but share my own qualms about dream-pop until The Strange Creatures’ female member Megumi Acorda came in the scene and majestically presented her solo material, akin to the sun shining from the horizon after a stormy weekend. I mean really, what's not to love when you combine lush vocals, Beach House's arpeggiated guitars, and Slowdive's happy/sad atmosphere? Well, Megumi Acorda has it all for you in her debut 4-track EP titled "Unexpectedly". From her debuts to her current singles, she singlehandedly shines through the alt-pop market with her astonishing releases on the internet. Gaining international attention from YouTube tastemakers like LazyLazyMe and many other playlists in online platforms, Megumi is making a name for herself among dream-pop and shoegaze enthusiasts.
"Unexpectedly" starts the EP right away with the title track, a sonically powerful intro similar to how Slowdive start their albums with Rachel Goswell singing heavenly melodies. The first track comes in with an excellent guitar riff, divine organs that are drowned deep with reverb, and Megumi’s siren-like vocals echoing throughout the track. The second track, “Ghost”, is an anthem for folks who only have one purpose, and no that isn’t to go “ghosting” on your crush, and that pupose is by existing for that person mainly. This track is one of those quieter tracks in the entire EP. If it weren’t for this track, the entire EP would’ve fall completely over saturated, but i digress. “Ghost” is perfect track to slowdance to with your significant other.
The third track “Aftershow”, which is a personal favorite of mine, straddles along the cold production of Beach House’s later material while Megumi and friends still maintain its subdued mood. The guitar solo here was improved by channeling two different tones, in which i personally call it as a “sonic treat”, to hear for 15 seconds. They kinda took a step back by lowering a bit of noise in the track compared to the one that was posted on her Soundcloud account last year. It was cool to hear more of the details than the details themselves getting blurred out of the picturesque soundscape. The last track “I’ll Get By”, is a catchy track that is bound to be on repeat. It was a track that laments the loss of a partner in a relationship and the aftermath that comes with it. Megumi and her band of great and talented musicians (which comprises of band members from bands like The Strangeness, Memory Drawers, July XIV, and Child/ren of the Pilgrimage), completely put together four tracks that are crafted to perfection.
“Unexpectedly” EP’s newer mixes sounded clear and gave way a lot of expressions that Megumi wanted to sing about in the songs. The drum machine was gone and it was replaced with real ones in the newer mix, the guitars sounded a lot like was anamorphic to any sound it wanted to be, and the bass complimented the noise as it builds.
This is an incredible EP from start to finish, i'll definitely look forward for what Megumi will be creating next in the near future. One of the best EPs i've heard in a while.