Izzy Perri hits the nerve of the 80s
There are songs that don't just remind you of times gone by – Explorer by Izzy Perri is exactly that kind of trip down memory lane for me. As soon as the first synth kicks in, I feel like I've been catapulted back to the 80s, as if I've got my hands on a long-forgotten mixtape and know exactly how it smells, sounds and feels.
The track from the US combines synth pop and new wave in a way that doesn't feel artificially nostalgic to me, but honest and harmonious. The melody is catchy, the mood is energetic, and it feels like reuniting with an old friend – familiar, sincere, and somehow timeless. I'm particularly impressed by how consistently Izzy Perri conveys this feeling not only musically, but also visually: the lyric music video in classic 4:3 format (black and white, grainy and with typical Anton Corbijn influences) reinforces this homage to a bygone aesthetic without seeming dusty.
Nevertheless, there is one moment that doesn't quite work for me personally: the short electric guitar bridge in the middle of the song. Sure, it's well placed and technically clean – but I'm just not a fan of guitars in electronic music. I would have preferred an even more synthetic sound at this point. For me, that would have made the flow of the track even stronger.
Nevertheless, Explorer remains a strong debut for me from Perri's upcoming EP "M1 With Love". The signature sound of the Korg M1 runs clearly through the song, giving it exactly the warmth and dynamism that I love so much about this genre. If retro can look forward, then this is exactly how it should be.
