Aqueduct - Tension

Some people know how to use synths, others don't. David Terry knows synths and creates just beautifully crafted electro-pop from his basement. You can tell it's recorded in his basement and it makes it that much more fun. His voice isn't great, but it is so interesting and sharp, your brain will be addicted to it before too long. Let's just put it this way, his voice is like crack: not good for you, maybe a little harsh, taking you to places you didn't know existed, but has this element of ecstasy to it that you won't want to give up. But probably it's just me.


I could have picked a half dozen or so songs off this album, but this is the song that introduced me to this band. It is so raw but at the same time so balanced in style and texture that it tells me that Terry really knows what he is doing. I love the overt use of overly synthetic horns and organs, a lesser artist would have normalized them more. But he is going for broke here. He's laying it all out on the line. And if there is one thing I can respect it's ambition with a touch of little to no shame.


The drums are so interesting and really keeps the flow of the song going and directs it into unpredictable territories. His voice matches the song's title, "Tension," and it offsets the strict organization of the instrumentals. The lyrics are so perfectly cliched it makes me want smile. He sings phrases like, "cause I am your bright star in the sky," "I can't believe that you're angry, won't even talk to me on the phone." What beautiful strangeness.