Review: Information By Eliot Sumner

New York – Eliot Sumner has not strayed far from her electro-pop roots for her Information EP. This new release comes with a darker, deeper sound than what we heard on her previous project, I Blame Coco. Both sounds are still steeped in the new wave, synth-pop tradition and are clearly siblings in that sense, but Information has something of a grit to it. I Blame Coco’s The Constant when compared to this newest release seems to be bursting with pep. The Information EP in comparison channels a more refined, but still familiar sound. There is still plenty of energy on the EP; it just draws from a different well.

The opening track “Information” is a synth-heavy permuted pop song. The combination of Sumner’s rich vocals and the harsh clang of the guitar make for a unique framing for what is clearly a breakup song. The EP’s extended version of “Information” includes a lengthy instrumental that riffs off the main melody for an extra three or so minutes. The lines “give me something I can work with / deliver me from the dark / give me something that I can count on / for now you seem so far” bleeds into a wash of synth and strings. The sound is tapered off, before launching into a stripped down instrumental refrain with wisps of electronics cutting in and out. Everything is so masterfully and organically woven in and the song itself is infectious enough that you hardly notice the time passing.

The steady plod of “Wobbler” forms a haunting side to the EP. In a handwritten letter posted on her Facebook, Sumner says the track “takes dark to another level in a fictitious tale of brutal murder with a waltz style swing.” Listeners were introduced to this darkness in “Information”, but “Wobbler” takes the sound down a more jealous, edgier path. According to the same letter both “Information and “Wobbler” came “from dark and complicated places, with a pulse.” The narrative is cleverly crafted and showcases Sumner’s expertise as a lyricist and chops as a storyteller. She skillfully presents this remorseless cold-blooded tale with impressive results.

“Come Friday” finds the energy and spunk we are used to hearing from Sumner/I Blame Coco. The guitar gets the most attention in this track; it’s bright riff occupying the most space in the chorus. Sumner also shines vocally on “Come Friday” more so than on any of the other tracks. Her voice resonates perfectly with the twinkling instrumentals. Lyrically, the song isn’t as straightforward as “Information” but there is something definitely sorrowful about it. The lines “At times I’ve been the worst / at time I’ve been the best of you” sum up the back-and-forth that the narrative follows. The song is not as sinister as “Wobbler” but a melancholy feeling lingers just under the high-energy melody.

The EP’s liveliness and new wave sound create something recognizable on the record; however, there is definitely newness to Information. The hints of her previous efforts and adherence to the same genre suggest that this new sound is born from the old one. It’s a more thought out, mature version and a natural follow-up to Sumner’s last record. If this is the growth we are to see in-between releases there can only be good things ahead.

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Zoe Marquedant

Zoe Marquedant is a Marylander now living in Brooklyn. She recently graduated from Sarah Lawrence College where she majored in Journalism and English literature. She is a freelance journalist, who primarily writes on music and culture. Her work can be seen in Boston Magazine, Highlight Magazine as well as on rsvlts.com, mxdwn.com and Baeblemusic.com. When not writing, Zoe is probably working her way through a new series on Netflix, researching new pie recipes and collecting dumb jokes (e.g. Two fish are in a tank. One turns to the other and says, "You man the guns. I’ll drive.") Follow her vain attempts at mastering social media at @zoenoumlaut