Over The Top is the latest sonic hyper-jump by Halifax’s galactic immigrants TWRP. The record is a perfect collision of their unstoppable moment and the conventions of today. You will hear the expected vocoder party anthems, the slinky guitar/synth/bass riffs, and the driving beats, but this time it all comes blended perfectly with the sounds of modern ’80s pop and electro-funk revivalism.
Everything sounds bigger, cooler, better than ever — somehow more epic and more focused at the same time. The finely tuned pop numbers are sure to win big with the party crowd, while the astonishing musicianship on display and the sheer quality of the arrangements will have serious enthusiasts engaged for ages. I am comfortable calling this the definitive TWRP album.
And does it ever feel good to talk about Over The Top as an album. In these days of instant video singles, the amount of care and attention put into every aspect of every track in Over The Top feels like a cry of victory for long format fans.
There are no dull moments here. Right about the time you are getting into your TWRP comfort zone to the cowbell beat of “Roll With It”, they hit you with the disco ballad wonder that is “Somewhere Out There”. This track not only features what could be the most nuanced vocoder singing I’ve heard yet, but also mixes it beautifully with FM synth horns and a pedal steel.
You’ve barely recovered from that when all of the sudden the iconic TWRP vocoder drops away, and the neo-soul sound of “Need Each Other” breaks through. This track is a collaboration with California’s Planet Booty, and my favourite in a record where most cuts make good single candidates. The guitar solo is sublime.
Near the end of the album “Destination” hits you with full-on Lita Ford style power vocals. I could go on and on.
In short, Over The Top is a record that starts strong and never really takes the foot off the gas.
The production is impeccable throughout, both technically and artistically. Every instrument sounds thick and powerful, and the track separation makes it a joy to listen for those inclined to break down the mix. The songs are immensely musical and leverage some advanced composition techniques, making great use of modal interchange (most notably in “Black Swan”) and complex rhythm-play.
TWRP’s lyrics expertly avoid taking themselves too seriously. But the writing is strong and clever, and it doesn’t shy away from universal hopes and anxieties. It reinforces the idea that in the TWRP universe problems are solved with ultimate calls to adventure and legendary ass-kicking. While disco-dancing.
Life can get you down, but every song in “Over The Top” will serve as the perfect montage soundtrack for your inevitable bounce-back.
Are you still here? The Universe is out there! And so is TWRP’s very excellent latest record.