Broods and Chvrches. They were a couple of bands that got me excited about the alternative-pop music scene during the last year or so.
Several weeks ago I discovered another track that fits that same style of ethereal rock groove. Ex Cops (no, they’re not former officers of the law or even Sting fans… it’s just another dumb band name) — featuring the duo of Amalie Bruun (Denmark) and Brian Harding (North Carolina) — have created an arresting angsty power-popish single that deserves way more attention than it’s currently getting.
“Black Soap” — the first song written for Ex Cops’ second album Daggers — pulls you in immediately with a solid, twangy bass-line followed by flowing synths under Amalie’s dreamy vocals… aesthetics apparently inspired by executive producer Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins. Brian told Greg Mania of Creem, “That came from Billy telling us that we needed a baritone-y deep guitar-voice in our songs… a ‘third’ voice. He told us to buy Duane Eddy’s Greatest Hits, and within two-songs we knew what he meant.” He added, “‘Black Soap’ still has our love of fucked-up sounding synthesizers and over-driven guitars.”
The song’s lyrics are a bit cryptic but it only took a few listens before realizing “Black Soap” is an apropos title. Brian (in an interview with RVA Magazine) called it “dark-pop,” where “you make a truly happy song and write really depressing ideas behind it.” Bands like the Smiths made a career out of that recipe.
Underneath the shiny up-tempo hook at its surface, you may discover a feeling of something a lot less effervescent. In fact, its lyrical imagery and musical multi-dimensionality makes the “Black Soap” vibe a bit mood-altering... that is, if you allow it to sink in.
“Take a sad song/You're making it worse/Your publicized tragic life/Can never be cursed…”
No matter how many times you let “Black Soap” wash over you, it’s scintillating tempo doesn't completely mask a small, lingering sense of melancholy. But in the pop-music building business, moving people is a good thing.
“Stay so clean/You’re obscene/Black Soap/Black Soap.”You can sample a few bars of this refreshing piece of pop right here!
