IcyDavy is an up-and-coming 16 year old Dutch music producer who’s been on the rise lately, and his work has been making the rounds all over the world. His new album, “Euphoria,” is also his first, and it stands as one of the more interesting albums we’ve heard this year. With a wide cavalcade of sounds and no lyrics, it’s surprisingly fun, but how does it hold up in a full review? Read on to find out.
The first thing to take note of is that Euphoria is a fairly chunky album. It runs for 1 hour and 17 minutes with a 26 song long tracklist, though IcyDavy makes good use of the extra time. Songs range from more soft, peaceful tunes to abrasive, harsher compositions, resulting in a surprisingly diverse and interesting listen. It’s a strong showcase of IcyDavy’s grasp on the ins and outs of beat making and song structure.
A vast array of different instruments and synths get thrown into the mix on Euphoria, though it’s all done tastefully and arranged well. Every song establishes it’s own atmosphere, with “Offense,” for example incorporating piano for soft, clean vibe. Generally songs tend to lean towards colder sounds, but it’s such a diverse album that it doesn’t ever stay in one spot for too long.
“Inspiration,” is a highlight of the album in this regard. Genius use of soft guitar riffs give the song a dreamy, nostalgic vibe that washes over the listener. Every beat and note, cleverly arranged to truly allow the impact of the song to land. It’s great while it lasts, and it’s one we find ourselves revisiting a lot. Even with Inspiration as a bar however, most of the tracks keep up to this high pedigree of quality.
Later songs like “Hypnothize,” also use this trick, but with their own spin. IcyDavy is careful not to retread his steps, and we appreciate it. With a tracklist this long, stumbling back into familiar tropes can be tempting. It’s the mark of a skilled musician to consciously not fall back into this problem, and we’re happy to see it’s not a problem here.
Our favourite track off of Euphoria, “Essential,” is another highlight. Tense, almost suffocating atmosphere is built up through a simple piano synth. Quickly, it builds up, climaxing into a triumphant sound that lifts a weight off your back as you listen. It’s a trick that’s used on only this one song, and we’d love to see it expanded further on other albums.
Overall, IcyDavy’s “Euphoria,” is an absolute vibe of an album, a highlight of the musician’s capability as a producer. His skill around hooks and beats are undeniable. Every song generates its very own atmosphere and vibe, and it’s so easy to get lost in the mix as you listen. If you’re at all interested in music production, then “Euphoria,” is an album you simply won’t want to miss out on.
