Music Review // Holly Wild "Technicolour"

When listening to music these days and hearing something which feels like it could be on the radio, I always think about how it seems fitting someone who listen to, say, Olivia Rodrigo or Sabrina Carpenter and want to make music like them.  Holly Wild has a sound which feels like it could fit in with pop radio artists, but what is on the radio feels more one dimenstional and the sound on "Technicolour" feels more layered, as it has depth to it.

There are definitely songs on here that could be on the radio and would draw you into the album, but there are also other songs which might not be as radio friendly.  The first song, "Pull Me In", has the lyric I like which says "I let the song speak instead" and then we get more upbeat somehow on the next song, "Only You Would Do", which feels like it has an almost spoken word-like verse and the start and stops of acoustics.

"Don't ask me how I am" is good advice as we find ourself in trying times.  The lyric "I might burst into tears in this damn cafe" seems to be fitting for so much going on around us.  But then the song right after, "I already know", opens with the line "Hope can give me a tummyache" and pianos.  It is that way in which Holly Wild can switch it up but always feel grounded in the same sound that makes this album feel so complete and so special.

While I enjoy the idea of this being open for people to hear various influences based upon who you are most familiar with in a general pop rock way, thoughout these songs I hear two very specific influences for me.  On one hand, I hear the more modern sound of Polly Scattergood.  At that same time, I hear more of the nostalgic era of mall pop coming from someone like Cyndi Lauper.  But whatever references you may make with this sound, it is one that is fun to hear.