Poppy - Zig (Album Review)
Poppy - Zig
Released: October 27th, 2023
Online
Poppy is somewhat of an anomaly. Genre-bending and morphing through the years into one of the most interesting artists of this generation. Any new release from her is always going to pique curiosity. That is what was the driving motive behind this album review- the curiosity about what gems Zig has to offer.
Spoiler alert: it's a treasure trove.
It kicks off with the already-released 'Church Outfit'. This macabre, heavy trance banger is saturated with chic gothic vibes. Poppy's sultry voice blends effortlessly with the visceral screams that end the track, giving us heavy in a very different way. Blending seamlessly into the next single 'Knockoff'. A pleading for authenticity, it lyrically feels so sensual. Vocally it is almost bubble gum pop, but the mood is the opposite. A sonic representation of the sweet versus dark aesthetic, it truly captures the image that Poppy has strived for.
It's almost hyperpop, but there is still that trance heaviness in it as 'Hard' offers a little more digital distortion. Like most of the tracks on this song, the imagery in the lyrics creates strong storytelling. The intentional breathlessness borders on sensuality, but it is weaved in with feminine rage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvDd8XnECEg
The use of strings at the start of 'What It Becomes' makes a lovely juxtaposition with the more digital sounds that have been present so far throughout the album. It creates a sort of tension that comes from the layer of sound that is happening but does not quite crescendo as it keeps breaking down. An essence of floating and swaying, with tiny moments causing a break in the flow. Rather haunting but as stated before, it never quite hits the crescendo it seems to promise. Just when you sense a breakdown coming, the mood changes.
'Flicker' is more upbeat, more pure and angelic. This time the use of strings has a more digital sound, like the flickering of a computer monitor- that futuristic cyber dreamlike state. The dreamlike state continues, but a faraway guitar drags your attention to '1's + 0's'. A play on binary code but the metaphor rings clear. A song that is asking for clarity, asking for commitment. A sound of pleading but also a warning to walk away. Like a lot of this album, it creates a sense of being on a journey. Whether it is a life journey, a relationship journey or a journey of self-discovery.
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'Zig' may be my favourite on the album. It is catchy and very pop in the vocal delivery and melody. It breaks itself down constantly and builds into one of the heaviest tracks on the album. The crescendo of sound is just made to go hard on the dance floor. It's the kind of song that has you dancing and headbanging at the same time. Complex layers of guitars, dreams and other digital sounds give it a lot of strength and fullness. Personally, I would have liked the chorus to go a little harder. That sort of tease into a breakdown with no delivery was rough but that may just be my metalcore heart talking.
A whiplash from the previous bop, 'Linger' strips itself right down. Poppy’s voice just sounds so beautiful over a clean guitar. That is the amazing thing about her as an artist. If she stayed with conventional pop, she would’ve still been a star. If she sang exclusively for a hard rock band, she would have been at the forefront of our conversations about the best front person. But her hybrid artistry gives her that uniqueness and truly allows her to flourish between genres. 'Linger' is beautiful. It is soft. It curates incredible imagery with the lyrics.
It is the perfect breath before heading into the rush that is 'The Attic'. With DNB-inspired pacing, the piano feels almost spooky against the fast drum and bass. We hear the higher register of Poppy’s vocal range, showing off her obscene talent once more. As the lyrics suggest, it feels like running up a staircase. Heart pounding.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgiC_sdPVdg
The track that brought me back into the Poppy wave, 'Motorbike' found itself nestled beautifully towards the end of the album. The sultry tune may combine an almost-pop summer electro beat that would not be out of place in the mid-00s top 40 charts. Sexy and refreshing, I still maintain that this is the perfect Summer banger, at least for us here in Australia.
Now the lyrics of 'Prove it' are self-fulfilling. 'Culmination of mistakes in a picture frame’ - this is the pop-punk-inspired hit I had been waiting for on this album. Feminine angst blended with angelic, almost Kate Bush-esque vibes. For those who may feel a little too old to relate to artists like Olivia Rodrigo but have been listening to the same pop-punk angst tracks for decades, this goes hard. We always have examples of teen angst in music then adult reflection, but this feels smack bang in the middle. On the first few listens though, it felt like the song ended a little early than expected. It felt like a little bit of an anti-climactic end to the album, but after a few listens it made sense.
There is no ending, as this is just part of the journey.
In all honesty, this album captures a voice that is succinct with the generation of women today. It has a maturity and depth that is beyond the years of the other faces of pop but it still does not belittle the angst and rage young women today experience. Poppy is growing musically, but she is also growing personally. Zig is proof of that.
Poppy - Zig tracklisting
1. Church Outfit
2. Knockoff
3. Hard
4. What It Becomes
5. Flicker
6. 1s + 0s
7. Zig
8. Linger
9. The Attic
10. Motorbike
11. Prove It
Rating 8.5/10
Zig is out October 27th via Sumerian Records. Pre-order it here.
Review by Kayla Hamilton (@kaylazomboid)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag3L1fBPo54
