"Warping Youth" by Feng Suave
Elevated by the unexpected popularity of their first release back in 2018, Feng Suave rigorously developed their second EP, Warping Youth, to further surpass the expectations of their fandom. Their follow up leaves us with this groovy sounding commentary, inspired by architects of soul such as Marvin Gaye, on the disenchantment of growing up.
Rather than finding itself on the frontier of new music, Warping Youth came off to me as an alternative-soul hybridization, a sound about which Marty McFly might have told our parents “you guys aren't ready for that yet ... but your kids are going to love it.” And we do. From end to end, the EP retains an evolving melody and rhythmic funkiness that woos listeners. Even through the most ostentatious usage of electric guitar, as featured at the end of the EP’s closing track, “Day One,” Feng Suave still maintains a sleek rhythm that agrees with the underlying motion of their music.
As the title suggests, Warping Youth narrates the shared experiences of the band’s contributors, Daniel de Jong and Daniel Elvis Schoemaker, as they grow more wise to and less comfortable with the fleeting remnants of juvenescence. From a humorous play on the afterlife’s open ended nature in “Toking, Dozing” to a commentary on consumption and unreciprocated love in “Maybe Another Time,” the duo cycle through and complement the provoking thoughts of their early lives with tropical sounding, speculative, and enchanting vocals.
In contrast with “Toking, Dozing” and “Maybe Another Time,” the introductory track, “Half Moon Bag” kicks off the EP with an attitude through passive aggressive lyrics that conflict with the upbeat dynamics of the melody. Without any instrumental introduction, listeners immediately hear the unique vocals of de Jong layered over the soft strumming of a ukulele as he sings “Don't look so woebegone / There's no world beyond the windows.” While the band asserts that the event of international quarantining had no influence upon the content of their music, their delivery within the opening verse of the album feels more than appropriate to this shaken-up time in our lives.
Maintaining a similar harmony to the rest of the EP, “People Wither” distinguishes itself from past aggravations and troubled thoughts as a reassuring and comfortable ballad. Lyrics like “If your dreams are taking beatings / I'll join you on the floor” and “Just let the sun pour in through the window for no one / 'Cause I... I know how you feel” fill me with warmness and gratification.
The unique style of contrasting existential dread with an enchanting melody threw me for a loop when I first started hearing lyrics of this EP. Having spent some time with it now, I feel greatly attached to the novelty of its creation and appreciative of the honest effort– required of one-upping their first release– that went into making Warping Youth. In the coming weeks, I expect to see the aforementioned tracks work their way up to the millions of monthly plays the rest of their discography receives.
Chris Goodall