Mellifluous and jagged, considered and expertly produced, this is Melbourne songstress Banoffee’s latest extended play offering, Do I Make You Nervous?
The production of long time collaborator and close friend Oscar Key Sung is notable from the very first beat of opening track, With Her. His unique glitchy-but-harmonious electronica suits Banoffee’s steez perfectly. When the rhythmic, layered bass kicks in, the experience is ascendant. While, next to a bleak break-beat, Banoffee croons, “Every time I hear your voice on the phone/ You were with her.”
Heavy stuff. That’s not to say the EP doesn’t pick up. The mood definitely lightens towards the end, with Fall Fast. However, it comes off a little contrived, like a Regina Spektor reimagining. That said, it’s still pretty swish.
The whole concept is a bit different from last year’s self-titled effort. If you’re looking for the sweetness of Ninja, or the beautiful round Australian vowels she once flexed, there’s not a lot of that on Do I Make You Nervous?
Track three, Oceans, makes the progression from last year’s release obvious. It’s a little more reminiscent of the Banoffee we’re all familiar with, but the instrumentation is far and beyond what we’ve heard before, and becomes increasingly complex.
To surmise, Banoffee’s going to be the next big thing. She’s already been on the cover of Vogue and taken out some titles at the Music Victoria Awards, and if you listen to this EP you’ll understand why – whether it’s your cup of tea or not.
BY NAVARONE FARRELL
