Pocket Lint Ramps Up For A New Album with The New Single "Cyanometer"
- BuzzSlayers
- 11 minutes ago
- 5 min read
A new single from Pocket Lint just dropped, and this track certainly delivers a very vast tonality that blends elements of electronically driven pop music with a mysterious, almost noir-cinematic aesthetic.
The track utilizes a series of synthesizers and keys to give you an expansive atmosphere, and it works amazingly because of how the artist layers those on and produces everything.
You have a synthesized bass line, which gives the track a certain kind of thickness, but there are also synth pads with an edgy texture. They're not smooth pads; they have a roughness to them while still providing the spacious and almost ambient aesthetic they're supposed to.
This was a brilliant move because it's one of the elements that pulls you into the song and sends you reeling along with it.
There's a bopping rhythm underneath everything, and the beat and bass line provide a lot of those elements, and this adds little hints of drive to the backbone of the track. It's not a driving track in general, but it does have that beat to sort of push it forward.
Has those synthesizers sort of swell and swirl slightly and ever so slowly, you start to drift alongside the soundscape of everything.
The vocals are very melodically present. They give you such addictive hooks, even in the verses.
The artist utilizes other instrumentation throughout the track but the vocals really add that depth.
This is a song that boasts some emotion, and the way the vocals are performed builds on that.
You can hear elements of post-punk, '80s pop, and always with that thick, cinematic feel that sort of wraps its arms around you.
The track isn't super dark, but it is selling. It definitely gets into a little bit of struggle and just the challenges of everyday life. I feel like it deals a little bit with depression because it does have sadness in the lyrics, although it is very metaphoric.
He uses the color blue as a metaphor for sadness, but also brilliantly puts it together in a way that it is described in different shades of color.
He realizes those colors as moods, and this gives you some perspective as to where he's coming from with the sentiment of the track itself.
Now, this is how I interpreted the song. Others may take it a little differently.Â
After all, the song is called "Cyanometer", which is technically an instrument for measuring blueness in general.Â
Again, I feel like he does connect that with emotion.Â
Lines like "So measure me now" definitely feel like they're about the measure of his mood. A measurement of how you feel during certain moments.Â
I was definitely pulled right into this single because it is such a beautiful blend of textures that come together and create something big. It's sonically refreshing.
Again, none of this is over the top, but instead, super well balanced, and in terms of how he creates the mood musically to go along with those lyrics is outstanding.
This is an artist who is able to connect those lyrics with the instrumentation and music itself so that they are one.
This was incredibly well-woven and just feels like it has a natural, forward-moving flow that invites you in.
As far as we can tell, the single is going to be part of an upcoming album, and upon listening to this track and learning about the record itself, I wanted to have a chat with the artist to find out more.
So, while you listen to this vast and vulnerable depiction of metaphoric balance, definitely read through our interview with Pocket Lint below.
Don't forget where you heard this first.
Where did this song come from and what was it about?
Well, this song is a part of my next album, Wunderkammer. On the album all of the songs represent objects in the Wunderkammer or cabinet of curios. This song is about a device that measures blue. But it is a unique type of Cyanometer and it seeks to measure the soul for blue.
I am hearing a few different styles on this single. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
I suppose some of the biggest would be Bowie, because of the fearless, restless nature and his determination to keep moving forward. Japan, I love their sound. Magazine, I think Secondhand Daylight and its mood permeates a lot of what I do and Soft Cell and The Human League's earlier stuff too. But I listen to a wide range of music and find inspiration in lots of it. Recently, I have been really into Adrian Sherwood and also Slowdive, but I would say Bowie, Japan, Magazine, Soft Cell. They are always there for me.
Are you performing live right now?
I did on Saturday actually, my first live performance of the year. I was playing at a pop-up record store: Table Turners. It was a great event. Hopefully, I will be doing some more later in the year.
How did your journey as a musician begin?
I had piano lessons from the age of 4 and a half and then at 12 I heard Jimi Hendrix and I jumped immediately to guitar. I played in bands in my teens, went to the Guitar Institute in London when I was 19 and that experience mixed with how dull late 90s indie music was pushed me into synths for the first time. Throughout my 20s I was in bands playing guitar, but when I created Pocket Lint, I wanted to play synths, guitars, everything.
Did you work with a producer on this album, or was this all you?
This is the first record I have ever sought outside help with. Adam at Deluxe Mixing helped me to mix and acted as a co-producer on it, which was fantastic. I also had some guest performers on the album, but Cyanometer is just me.
Do you record on a home studio setup?
Yes, I am very lucky that I have a room that is just set up for recording and I have all of my guitars, synths and drum machines in there. I know that that is a pretty big luxury and I'm grateful to be able to have that space to be able to walk in and create whenever I want.
What's next for you? Working on more new releases?
Well, first, see how this and the next single do and then the album. I have already begun recording the next album, which will be quite different. I have really gone back to guitars with it, so it will be a departure from any of my more recent stuff. And then, I have ideas for the album after this, which will be a sort of weird dark cabaret type thing.
What kind of advice would you give to other up and coming bands or artists trying to get heard?
Oh god, I don't know, I don't think I am in any position to advise anyone, but what I would say is ignore experts and trust your heart and artistic vision. And don't get stuck in a rut.
What would you say people can expect to hear on this track?
Synths and drum machines, me singing, oh and a guitar solo - a rare thing for one of my songs.
Before we go, what would you want to express to fans of the music?
Tell your friends, family, neighbours and strangers in the street and cheers for listening!