![Review: City Rain - Montage [EP]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/geek/gars/images/3/0/8/3/4/cityrain_montage_artlo.jpg)
![Review: City Rain - Montage [EP]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/altthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fhangout.altsounds.com%2Fgeek%2Fgars%2Fimages%2F3%2F0%2F8%2F3%2F4%2Fcityrain_montage_artlo.jpg&w=500&h=500&zc=1&q=70){kind=small}
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Like many musical backstories, the story of Philadelphia’s City Rain is one of defeat and ultimate redemption. The big difference here though is that City Rain’s redemption is ongoing… and this time, the band is wielding their most impressive weapon yet: their Montage EP.“It was a story of wanting to be noticed and respected for who I was and the gifts I have to offer,” says vocalist / keyboardist / programmer Ben Runyan. “It was and is also about making amends for people I feel like I have wronged or hurt.”
Upon first listen, I'm jarred by this EP, on a whole the vocals grate on me, I don't want them to, but they do. Musically it works, airy guitars, plenty of synth and good beats...it's just the vocals that don't convince me.
The first track on the Montage EP is the title track 'Montage'. Vocoder use is prevalent here, overused perhaps. The stabbing synth works really well into the drop, but the drop doesn't quite happen enough for me, a little weak. The build up of keys & strings and the harmonising towards the end lifts the song, just as I was getting distracted anyway. I can definitely hear a few big remixes of this track in the clubs, perhaps with some bigger bass-lines and a fatter drop...?!
WATCH // City Rain - Montage
When I heard 'Big Boys Do Cry,' I was reminded of several other tracks, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Firstly, the intro brought to mind The Chromatics' 'Tick of the Clock'(from the Drive soundtrack). Bon Iver also springs to mind, but then Ben gets a little too shouty for me at certain points. Again it's the vocals as a whole that let this track down...however the more I listen to it the more I enjoy it, and it's complex layers. Of this track Ben says “I was thinking about ending it all, it was essentially a suicide song. There is no way around that and this was my last message. When I finished the song, it was such a huge relief and a very emotional undertaking. I had taken something supremely negative and ended the song with this really positive and uplifting ‘moving on’ type of feeling.”
'Hearts on Fire' begins and yet again, instantly, I'm agitated by the vocals and the effects put over them....might be to others tastes but really not mine. However I do like the piano riffs in between. Again, musically this track works and I can definitely see many a festival tent raising the roof to this one...makes we wonder what Ben's vocals will be like live?! 'No Problems,' arrives and I'm sure it was no problem writing these lyrics as they are very basic...that said, I do like this more down-tempo, melodic offering. 'No Problems' has agreat guitar riff and, finally Ben's vocals don't jar! Last up is 'I Remember,' and instantly I know this is my favourite track. Again, the vocals are more palatable to my tastes and, although the vocoder makes a strong appearance again, it is used well and in moderation. Clearly a story of lost love from youth, 'I Remember' is a story we can pretty much all relate to. Instead of giving us a soppy ballad we get touching lyrics with their electro pop synth style, definitely the stand out track for me on this EP.
The EP also features 2 more bonus tracks, orchestral versions of both 'Big Boys Do Cry'and 'Hearts on Fire'. To say I prefer these versions would be a little bit of an understatement...this is more like it! Especially with 'Big Boys Do Cry,' I'm instantly reminded of Japanese producer Anchorsong and I love it. Those familiar with Anchorsong's work will understand what I mean.
WATCH // Anchorsong - Breathe Breathe Me
The orchestral version of Hearts on Fire is good too, better than the original, but still not as strong as 'Big Boys Do Cry.'
Throughout the Montage EP I've been reminded of Example. Now love him or hate him (for me, it's the latter) you can't fault what he's doing, and the mass-market love it...sadly for City Rain I think they're about 6 months too late to really get what they want from this EP. Example has it covered, and it looks like he'll be around longer than City Rain will.
All in all though, Montage is a good offering, not great, but not terrible either...I think City Rain certainly have some mileage in it, but I think they'll soon be forgotten as we are spoon fed yet more electro-pop, white-boy rap type "anthems".
Songs to check out:
Upon first listen, I'm jarred by this EP, on a whole the vocals grate on me, I don't want them to, but they do. Musically it works, airy guitars, plenty of synth and good beats...it's just the vocals that don't convince me.
The first track on the Montage EP is the title track 'Montage'. Vocoder use is prevalent here, overused perhaps. The stabbing synth works really well into the drop, but the drop doesn't quite happen enough for me, a little weak. The build up of keys & strings and the harmonising towards the end lifts the song, just as I was getting distracted anyway. I can definitely hear a few big remixes of this track in the clubs, perhaps with some bigger bass-lines and a fatter drop...?!
WATCH // City Rain - Montage
When I heard 'Big Boys Do Cry,' I was reminded of several other tracks, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Firstly, the intro brought to mind The Chromatics' 'Tick of the Clock'(from the Drive soundtrack). Bon Iver also springs to mind, but then Ben gets a little too shouty for me at certain points. Again it's the vocals as a whole that let this track down...however the more I listen to it the more I enjoy it, and it's complex layers. Of this track Ben says “I was thinking about ending it all, it was essentially a suicide song. There is no way around that and this was my last message. When I finished the song, it was such a huge relief and a very emotional undertaking. I had taken something supremely negative and ended the song with this really positive and uplifting ‘moving on’ type of feeling.”
'Hearts on Fire' begins and yet again, instantly, I'm agitated by the vocals and the effects put over them....might be to others tastes but really not mine. However I do like the piano riffs in between. Again, musically this track works and I can definitely see many a festival tent raising the roof to this one...makes we wonder what Ben's vocals will be like live?! 'No Problems,' arrives and I'm sure it was no problem writing these lyrics as they are very basic...that said, I do like this more down-tempo, melodic offering. 'No Problems' has agreat guitar riff and, finally Ben's vocals don't jar! Last up is 'I Remember,' and instantly I know this is my favourite track. Again, the vocals are more palatable to my tastes and, although the vocoder makes a strong appearance again, it is used well and in moderation. Clearly a story of lost love from youth, 'I Remember' is a story we can pretty much all relate to. Instead of giving us a soppy ballad we get touching lyrics with their electro pop synth style, definitely the stand out track for me on this EP.
The EP also features 2 more bonus tracks, orchestral versions of both 'Big Boys Do Cry'and 'Hearts on Fire'. To say I prefer these versions would be a little bit of an understatement...this is more like it! Especially with 'Big Boys Do Cry,' I'm instantly reminded of Japanese producer Anchorsong and I love it. Those familiar with Anchorsong's work will understand what I mean.
WATCH // Anchorsong - Breathe Breathe Me
The orchestral version of Hearts on Fire is good too, better than the original, but still not as strong as 'Big Boys Do Cry.'
Throughout the Montage EP I've been reminded of Example. Now love him or hate him (for me, it's the latter) you can't fault what he's doing, and the mass-market love it...sadly for City Rain I think they're about 6 months too late to really get what they want from this EP. Example has it covered, and it looks like he'll be around longer than City Rain will.
All in all though, Montage is a good offering, not great, but not terrible either...I think City Rain certainly have some mileage in it, but I think they'll soon be forgotten as we are spoon fed yet more electro-pop, white-boy rap type "anthems".
Songs to check out:
- I Remember
- Big Boys Do Cry (Orchestral version)
Montage is out 28th August
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