Wellington, New Zealand-based alternative pop artist Tarn PK has appeared on our blog a couple of times, most recently at the beginning of the month courtesy of his single Petty. The track features on his third EP, SugarCoated, released today.
By Graeme Smith
Tarn PK’s last EP Monarch had a stripped back sound, but SugarCoated is unashamed maximal pop. It opens with Blunt Force Trauma, a chilled hyper pop effort that has a cool groove and modern edge. Vocal effects can be a bit hit or miss usually, but Tarn nails their use here, adding an interesting texture and emotion to his voice in this strong opener.
Fever Dream comes next, bringing with it a sense of longing and some experimental electronic arrangements. A quiet opening gives way to a percussive middle and the use of loud-quiet is expertly applied in this track. We’re left with a dreamy outro that will have you swaying along.
Simple Love was released as the EP’s first single and it sits here as a jewel at the heart of the EP. Perhaps the closest to commercial pop, there’s still enough experimentation to keep things feeling unique while also being highly accessible. It’s easy to see why it was chosen to tease the EP. It’s a highlight.
Then we get to the aforementioned Petty, working perfectly in its place on this EP. It provides a hip hop edge and an emotional depth. Most importantly, it’s catchy and memorable as hell!
The EP closes with its title track. Incredibly, it manages to push the envelope even further with its arrangement that feels both simple and complex. Gentle moments give way to big bass notes and a lyrical message that encourages us to reject the artificial and embrace what’s real, no matter how difficult that might be. It’s a great finish.
The hyper pop genre is still very much underground, and certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, but its influence in modern pop is growing every day. Tarn PK has embraced its sensibilities in all the right ways with this EP, making a collection that feels both en vogue while staying completely unique. I think this is an EP that I’ll be returning to and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I have. You can give the whole of SugarCoated a listen below.
