I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting music, so when I heard Howe’s EP Courtesy of Insomnia, I couldn’t help but share it with our readers! Howe is an artist based out of Northern California, creating distinctively unique pieces of music that are unlike anything else I’ve ever heard before! A full stream can also be found at the end of this review.
By Jane Howkins
Wash Rinse Repeat is the first song on the EP, setting the tone perfectly for what’s to come. Unique bass and synth beats collide in a rhythmic fashion with the hip-hop style percussion, adding a cool texture to the piece. It sounds fairly simplistic at first, however there’s much more going on here than first meets the ear! Howe’s vocals glide spectacularly through the tune, with an array of intriguing, recorded backing vocals complementing her voice perfectly.
Dressed In Pink has a slightly different vibe, although it’s still as experimental sounding as the previous song! The keyboards add a cool flavour to this track, sounding light in the background. The backing vocals are whispered, with several different layers running alongside Howe’s lead vocals. The piano melody changes slightly as the song progresses, giving the music a positive feel.
God’s Lullaby opens in a slower fashion, with a stripped-down piano melody consisting of some melancholy chords starting things off nicely. The male backing vocals at the start add a different touch, with further backing vocals appearing over time to add more to the track. However, it’s on Howe’s lead vocals that this track really shines, having a stunningly beautiful sound to them.
S L E EP brings the tempo back up again, featuring a swirling keyboard melody as the main instrumentation here. The keyboards are also used to add a percussive vibe to the tune, before the drums kick in proper. One of the things that struck me most here is how the percussion is used in a light way, with the keyboards and synths adding more to it than you’d normally expect from such a song. The title is perfectly apt, sounding almost like a lullaby.
Hello Moon features some really interesting backing effects, with the sound of water playing in the background. The synths are a little more discordant here than on most of the other tunes, adding an eerie, sinister vibe to proceedings. A gorgeous violin solo arrives later on, creating a subtle beauty within the track. Howe is truly a master of atmosphere here, as she draws the patient listener into her captivating world!
Shadow Puppets continues the dark themes of the previous tune, raising the tension slowly over the course of the track as more and more elements are added. This is the sort of song that you’ll have to listen to a few times over, in order to fully appreciate everything. The vocals are whispered at times, almost taking a backseat when compared to the ambience of the music.
Title track, Courtesy of Insomnia, is also the final song on the EP, closing it out nicely. It starts with the sound of hospital machines bleeping, before the keyboards appear, performing on their own, alongside Howe’s vocals. The drums come in after a while, but it’s still a suitably subtle piece of music, really allowing the vocals to shine through.
Courtesy of Insomnia won’t be for everyone, as it’s rather experimental. However, Howe has clearly found her niche here, and the amount of imagination she has is something to be lauded. Those that give this a go will be rewarded.
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