ALBUM REVIEW: One Click Straight - Midnight Emotion
“d e r i v a t i v e” One Click Straight is a retro “inspired” synth-pop band that had been slowly gaining traction in the local indie circuit for two years. Since the release of their first EP “Nostalgia” back in 2016, they had delivered a consistent release of singles while performing under a constant gig schedule. All four of those singles would end up being included in their debut album “The Midnight Emotion”, a longer retreading of the aforementioned 2016 EP. I had avoided reviewing their singles in the past, for I had a gut feeling that the album that would contain those singles would have little to no variation. To no surprise, I was proven right. Every song in this eleven track album bleeds into each other to the point of achieving homogeneity. Discussing the tracks individually proves to be a futile effort; whatever salvageable melodic ideas found in dissecting each song is thoroughly buried with the presence of several negatives. From a grating vocal performance, an unchanging instrumental palette, to the presence of overdone indie pop songwriting tropes, the album fails to rise above the monotony. As with most releases in the modern age of indie pop, Once Click Straight falls into the velvet-laden trap of prioritizing aesthetics.
If I have been told beforehand that this was a satirical take on the “late night city chill” aesthetic I would have fully believed it. Sadly, the lack of depth is sincere. Breathily fawning over a manic pixie dream girl archetype through endless repetitions of synthpop standards usually screams “retro indie” all by itself, but the band takes it a few steps further. Every single aspect of the album is tailor-fit to pander to those lusting after late nights, cigarettes, and other pedestrian debauchery. One Click Straight extends that pandering to their overall image, as if to easily signal how shallow their overall brand is. The end result is eleven tracks of aural Novocain. Overall, this album presents a clear signal of willing stagnation for the band, and presents absolutely no potential for future growth.