12/19/2021
New music!
The latest single from The Stops, Ground Control, is a window into a night of indulgence that takes a turn for the worst. This catchy dance-rock anthem drags you through a musical trip that you won’t soon forget.
Describing an ineffable experience is the Mount Everest of expression. It’s a pursuit that is all too often over-dramatized in television and film. Ground Control pulls out all the stops, without sending us on an unrealistic voyage. It achieves this through clever songwriting, lyricism, and production, in doses that feel appropriate at each moment as the song unfolds.
One notable example of this songwriting on display is the syncopated guitar playing in verses two and three. This guitar, while playing a steady rhythm, continually slips in and out of time with the groove established by the drums and bass. This gives the impression of being in full possession of your faculties, as reality dissolves away. It’s an incredible piece of musicianship, and a beautiful juxtaposition best understood under the influence.
Ground Control reaches its apex in the third chorus, following a spacious and hook-driven guitar solo. It enters in a familiar fashion, but midway through the chorus the whole song suddenly flows into a half-time section. The groove, once composed and independent of any meandering, fully gives in. Guitars echo in reverse as vocals drown out in an ever-expansive reverb, fracturing into obscure harmonies. The expanse swells, as the drums suddenly regain their footing, pulling everyone back to the groove to finish off the chorus. The addition of some low vocal harmonies, as well as a quirky synth layer, presents the ending of the hook in a new light.
As the song comes to a close, dialogue from the band begins. Interestingly, the dialogue was constructed from the B-roll audio of the Ground Control recording sessions. The conversation is simultaneous and hard to follow. It’s not clear if we are back in reality or still in the blur of the night before.
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