When it comes to the recent EDM genre craze, many may feel the music is all starting to sound the same. However, Los Angeles based “EDM rock” duo Ready Never are bringing something fresh and unique to the crowded scene with the recent release of their debut album, Eleutherophobia, meaning a fear of freedom.
The duo certainly show no fear of artistic freedom on the project by incorporating live drums, piano and guitar strings mixed in with attention-grabbing vocals. Ready Never has created a refreshingly distinct sound, one which adopts elements from many genres, including electronica, pop, rock, and dance. The new album showcases the duo’s talents and love for EDM music as it is loaded with early pop/house elements, especially on the effort’s lead single “Take That Pill“.
Though the single tackles our society’s unfortunate obsession with pharmaceutical drugs, the overall vibe is weirdly cheerful as infectious breakdowns and whistling will certainly grab the attention of any listener. It’s an insane array of influences packed into an uptempo dance track, but somehow it works. “Take That Pill” becomes a great opener for what is to come.
On “Casualties“, the reggae-sounding, carefree highlight of the album, the duo drastically switches things up with positive end results. “It’s just a matter of time, you’ll see my casualties,” the duo sings on a repeat-worthy chorus wrapped in uptempo beats.
Elsewhere on the effort, Ready Never toys with instrumental experimentation. “Victim Of Vice” and “Future Retro” highlight promising production skills while impressive and intriguing tracks such as “Tell Me” and “Assistant Press Play” will definitely keep listeners on their toes for all the right reasons with their Daft Punk/disco-inspired beats.
Ready Never are an incredibly talented duo separating themselves from the ever-growing misconceptions of the EDM genre. Their new album may rely heavily on production, but underneath there are clever lyrics, an act for repetition and a show of promise for future releases. Eleutherophobia may not be without its missteps, but all in all, it’s a fun, commendable start.