- Fuzzy synths supporting soft female vocals. Sound familiar? It's hard not to hear Shadowbox's debut without thinking of Laurel Halo, as unfair as that might be. Thankfully, the Brooklyn artist can hold her own, and though there are moments on her debut that struggle to stay afloat or differentiate themselves, Haunted by Colors is a promising enough first salvo.
The EP begins in earnest with the fizzy buzz-saw of "AM," her voice a mixture of confident crooning, and girlish, child-like multi-tracked harmonies. It glides and soars with ease like twirling ribbon streamers, and when the track's synths turn serrated and rough, the effect is mesmerising.
The affected regality of "D 60" recalls Kate Bush, but it never quite delivers, with the backing track flailing limply in an attempt to climax. The glitchy water-drop percussion on "CO" leans too close to anodyne downtempo, showing that she hasn't quite mastered the machine(s) at her fingertips. "Let's Not" is the most successful marriage of her pop vs. producer polarity. As a beautifully delicate, unfolding melody blooms over a billowing synth backdrop, it's almost enough to make you forget the awkward growing pains heard elsewhere.
Tracklist 01. A M
02. D 60
03. C O
04. Let's Not
05. Loveless Child
06. Running Like a Ghost