Tal Simon released his debut self-produced EP Reworks on Tuesday, April 13, months after his single “SUWUL” with Puck was released. During quarantine, he reopened his old hard drives and found hundreds of half-finished loops, vocal stems, and beats that we now find in the EP. The body of work like Simon himself does not adhere to one genre, but instead ties in sounds from EDM, pop, and indie music. The Brooklyn-based, genre-defying artist created a euphoric kaleidoscopic blend that takes listeners on a trip through the subconscious.
The EP’s opening song “The Dresser,” a song about recalling a transient relationship where vulnerability was scarce, begins with the sound of changing channels until the listener finally finds the perfect one. It embraces that feeling of landing on your favorite station or hearing your favorite song on the radio after searching for what seems like forever. Reaching this EP is no mistake and Simon makes that clear with standouts “SUWUL” and “YOU”.
He first brought “SUWUL (Speak Up What U Love)” to light back in July. The single takes listeners through an almost ethereal experience of connection, revelation, and meaning. The voice of Puck adds a spiritual feeling to the song with the gentle, echoing sounds that mimic what we expect to hear when opening the gates to Heaven, or in this case to a new beginning. The song encompasses swapping a missed relationship connection with someone else for deeper more intoxicating one with yourself, a real moment of self-discovery Simon experienced.
He also delivered the Illenex Remix which sets the scene of the moment you’re walking into a club with your best friends and the music is all you hear, a feeling I’m sure many miss. The heavy beat mixed with moments of calm makes the song seem as if it has slow-motion moments, allowing a pause for the moment of finding the elucidation Simon reflects on through the song.
The skittering two-step beats that define “You” are inspired by songs Simon grew up listening to while visiting family in London. It is reminiscent of poolside party music that makes you wanna get up and dance before taking a dip in the water. It is the perfect upbeat vibe to keep energy high before cooling down into “Hollandaise,” a track that goes hand-in-hand with a fresh cup of coffee in the tranquil, early morning hours.
See the “Hollandaise” live car session below.
Simon shared with Beyond The Stage (BTS) his style, inspirations, and memories that influenced the EP.
“No matter the song genre or style, my sonic palate stays consistently dreamy and nostalgic. The same mechanical rhythms and icy synths I grew up listening to on old Style Council, Tears for Fears, The Human League, Yazoo records, etc. feel second nature when I’m making my music. It’s a comforting feeling for me, triggering fond memories of Sunday roast dinners, summers in London, and my Dad hysterically reciting every lyric and mimicking drum rolls on old Spandau Ballet songs.”
As Reworks peacefully drifts to its conclusion, listeners may find themselves in a wave of comforting nostalgia and reflection, feelings Simon can evoke with just a few drum hits and synth swells. However, the EP serves to touch on the elation and expression that stem from converging the past with the future. It guides listeners through this process without making them hand over the reigns, letting it remain a personal experience affected by their memories and lived experiences.
Listen to Reworks below.
Rating: 7/10
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