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Follow-up projects are often daunting for both the artist and their listeners. It could go in so many unpredictable directions. Some artists have fell flat with their sophomore releases, others have returned in triumphant fashion, creating more desire for what they have to share. As far as I know, the past two years of delving into the Australian music scene has shown me that, Australian artists know how to work it. Leisure Suite are no exception to that rule.
Punctuated by breathtaking vocals and some gorgeous production, synth-pop duo Leisure Suite are stepping into the limelight with sophomore EP Lay Low.
Starting off strong with their debut EP, Leisure Suite have already impressed many within the Australian music circuit. Performing at last year’s Paradise Music Festival, the duo hold true to their name with a sound that’s as leisurely and luxurious as it comes. With the release of Lay Low, the duo have ramped things up a notch vocally and production wise, upgrading their raw DIY sound towards a more refined and organic finish. Serving up a euphonious final product, they solidify their stance as heavy hitters within the emerging Australian electronic music scene.
Projecting the ultimate laid back vibes with Lay Low, this EP is the perfect mix for a chill out day or simply a playlist for your commute to uni/work. Leisure Suite’s down-tempo electronica is led by Bridgette Le’s ethereal vocals, carried by the smooth craftsmanship of co-producer, Mitch Wood. Echoing synths seep through the faintly pulsating beats within their sound, instantaneously sending tingles down your spine. One noticeable feat within this new EP is that Le has returned with a stronger affirmation on her role as the duo’s lead vocalist, sounding better than ever.
Aside from that, another commendable feat about this release is that it’s the duo’s first self-produced release. You can feel the love injected within this project from miles away, its creation is profound from the beginning to the end. We’re greeted by a deep and heavy production that begs to be notice within the low end, while Le’s enchanting and emotionally vulnerable vocals cruise right over the high frequencies.
The lead synths that do make an appearance in the high frequencies tend to be either high noted percussion hits which could be heard on Shame. Subsequently, gentle piano, synth or guitar notes could also be heard on the high end of songs such as Feel and Steady as it Comes. The beauty of this minimal production is that it allows room for Le’s vocals to shine yet maintaining the bass filled foundation which gives the final product its robust volume and refine feel.
From the breathy evocations on Sweet Gin to the glitch minimalism of Feel, the duo show that they have come a long way of early DIY music production to high-quality earworms emphasised throughout Lay Low. Of course, their polished sound also benefits from the mastering prowess of Grammy-nominated aficionado Andrei Eremin (Chet Faker, Hiatus Kaiyote, and Miami Horror).
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