UK-based Jack Ritchie, better known as Bearcubs, hasn't released a ton of music, but what he has has garnered attention from names like Annie Mac and Huw Stephens, and his latest release, Chroma, is definitely in line to attract even more. The five-track EP strikes a perfect balance, and Ritchie's vocals — defined by a monotonous, ghostly timbre and palpable British accent — simply work with the mixture of richness and contrasting sparseness present on Chroma.
Title track "Chroma" starts and ends in a wave of hearty distortion, before standout track "So Long," featuring Secaina Hudson, uses deep bass and thick low ends to perfectly complement the high-pitched synths that float atop the track. Following closely is "Sirens Calling," on which back and forth synths, almost like a repetitive squeaky wheel, punctuate "Sirens Calling," the proceedings, keeping the whole thing aloft. The only track that seems out of place is "Peaky," featuring Beau Young Prince rapping across pounding bass drum and heavy bass, the song a strange departure from the remaining textured tracks with tranquil vocals. It's a small misfire, though, and Chroma is still worth exploring in its entirety.
(All Points)Title track "Chroma" starts and ends in a wave of hearty distortion, before standout track "So Long," featuring Secaina Hudson, uses deep bass and thick low ends to perfectly complement the high-pitched synths that float atop the track. Following closely is "Sirens Calling," on which back and forth synths, almost like a repetitive squeaky wheel, punctuate "Sirens Calling," the proceedings, keeping the whole thing aloft. The only track that seems out of place is "Peaky," featuring Beau Young Prince rapping across pounding bass drum and heavy bass, the song a strange departure from the remaining textured tracks with tranquil vocals. It's a small misfire, though, and Chroma is still worth exploring in its entirety.