The new EP from Brooklyn-based artist Paul Feder, Never Sleep is a cohesive follow-up to 2021 EP Nightwalk, again pursuing a spacey electronic production with intriguing structural turns and hooky reveals. The opening title track repeats “never go to sleep,” with feverish intent amidst vibrant synth pluckiness, scaling back into a spacey glistening and contemplation prior to a more vibrant second half; it’s a satiating opening to an EP abundant with atmospheric pop charm.
Following the elegant and string-infused feelings of “Home,” the finale “Wonderful Day” shows a brighter pop enamoring with an Erasure-esque rhythmic playfulness in the first minute. “Don’t leave anything behind,” the vocals plead, guiding into a chirpy synth lead. The effervescent, upbeat qualities resonate with replay-inducing effect, as “this is the end of the line,” vocals play poignantly into the final moments. Feder engagingly blends radiant songwriting and production throughout Never Sleep.
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“Never Sleep” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of July 2023’ Spotify playlist.
