Album Review: Pretty Addicted - Soul For Sale
It can be quite a fun endeavour to explain to people just exactly what Pretty Addicted is musically.
Part of you wants to quantify the electronic chaos in to sub-genres and descriptive examples along the lines of angry, punk, rave-like madness. Which of course can never explain P.A with any true justice.
The other part of you decides 'Nah, screw that' and just plays a banger on the nearest device; Be that one of the classics like 'Mania' and 'Filthy Whore Mouth' or the new contender for top tune when it comes to Pretty Addicted in the form of 'Dickhead' that finishes off this latest album. Either way whoever you're explaining it to will no doubt be loving it!
Vicious Precious has been powering through the last year. Despite the difficulties of lockdown and constantly postponed tours, she has managed to make no less than eight music videos for this album already, with another on the way I believe. Two done professionally, and six from the artistic realms of her own home and mind. (I've not put them all in for fear of slowing down the page too much but check for more on the P.A YouTube!)
Let's take a dive in to an aptly named album for someone who really has put their soul in to their music.
Review
We kick off with a strong start. 'Mother' is a real angst fuelled tear in to force-fed religion and personal life realities. The tempo gets you moving and appreciating the rave value Pretty Addicted often delivers but most importantly there is a slight air of humour to it all to take the edge off.
'Soul For Sale' feels like a fall down the Rabbit hole with its descent like synth tones. The way these tones introduce the track feels like a real twist on classical music, in a sense of how far a classical structure could be electronically corrupted whilst still retaining that classic composition vibe.
This album explores mental health in great detail and that comes across well in this ballad.
Nothing is ever quite as it seems with Pretty Addicted; Will the next verse drop some bass and bring more rave or will it drop to a slower, more poetic experiment in song structure? You're never quite sure and it makes for a truly cinematic experience in your mind as you listen.
'Lone Wolf' has a nice air of underlying trance and euphoria in amongst the personal growth message. There is a hint of Prodigy and Pendulum in this track that brings depth to the dance breakdown parts.
Continuing with the theme of mental health and mindful exploration of the self we have 'Too Much (90 Days A Cycle)' and 'Phobia'. The later has one hell of an entrancing beat that pulls you in, or at least it did to me whilst wearing headphones. It's only by the end of the track when a voice sample snaps you out of it do you realise how invested you've become to the beat.