In reality, it's probably a bit of both. Anyway, to get the full lowdown on this quirky track, head below. Making sure you've listened to it first, obviously.
If nothing else, through hearing Sweets, I've learnt a new word that a lot of people seem to be associating with it: Kawaii. If, like me, you're unfamiliar with it, it's basically a way of describing things as cute, and it's particularly associated with Japanese culture. Think anime, Hello Kitty, that sort of thing.
By now hopefully you've listened to the track, and therefore know exactly why kawaii is applicable. It is very evocative of Japanese culture. Bizarrely, in places, I find it also sounds slightly like a French lullaby sort-of thing.
...hopefully someone else can see where I'm coming from.
Anyway, where was I? Oh yes! Sweets is a bloody excellent track. The sound design is unlike anything I've ever heard before, and Fox succeeds in crafting a cute, dreamy soundscape for listeners to be drawn into. Don't imagine it's a particularly relaxing ride, though - this is still a four to the floor House/Big Room track, after all, and things slowly start to kick off.
As for the drop? Nothing could really have prepared me for that. A couple of incredibly slick vocal samples lead into the drop. "What?!" exclaims a lady just before it, which oddly enough was my exact reaction upon hearing it. Whether that was an intentional nod to how unique and quirky his style is, I'm not sure, but it works. The drop itself retains the wonderful melody that was introduced earlier, and... I... I'm really not sure how to even describe it. It's sorta like Big Room... except cute, and light, and fun... and Japanese. It's incredibly sparse, but it's a testament to Fox's melody that he's able to somehow make the space seem less empty.
I also can't remember the last time I heard a track that was quite so rhythmically interesting, with a conflict between the laid back dotted rhythms in the percussion and the sharp, almost double-dotted rhythms in the synths (sorry, bit music-nerdy there. Look it up here if you don't know what I'm on about).
I could go on about Sweets (Soda Pop) for so much longer, but I feel it may be time to wrap things up. I wasn't sure what to make of it at first, but I'm now totally hooked, and I find myself unable to explain quite why that is. I suppose it boils back down to the cuteness thing. We all love cute stuff - people are inexplicably drawn to animals, or pictures, or toys that they think are cute. I just didn't think that the same principal could ever apply to music, but Fox Stevenson has succeeded in proving me very, very wrong. If you listen to only one track today, make it this one. You won't regret it.
Now, if you excuse me, I'm off to go listen to Fox's entire back-catalogue...
UPDATE (12/09/14): Spinnin' have now officially confirmed the name of the track, and have given it an official release date of September 29th.
The Octopus' Rating: 7.5/8
Release Details:
Name: Sweets (Soda Pop)
Artist: Fox Stevenson
Label: Spinnin' Records
Release Date: 29 September
Purchase: Not Yet Available
Writer, musician, and all-round top guy. I set up Excited Octopus. Currently, I'm on a one man team. It gets lonely sometimes. But I don't mind, because I love you all.
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