The lovely and loveable new wave/synthpop duo Songs for Sabotage has just released Clean Trauma, their much-anticipated sophomore full length. After a successful run of singles, including “Killer”, the record has finally reached our ears and it comes as delightful step for their career. Clean Trauma comes carving a natural path from their earlier sound, found in the debut Nights of Joy and subsequent singles, and this time they sound even bigger, richer and fuller than before. The synths are crystalline, the percussion hits harder and the vocals sound even more saccharine – Clean Trauma elevated everything they’ve made so far into something that feels remarkably flawless.
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The electronic pop with distorted guitars made by the duo always stood out from the rest exactly because of its eerie yet vulnerable atmosphere, sounding like diary entries with lyrics that feel like a stream of consciousness. This comes across even more on this record, bringing the raw emotions front and center with nothing being held back. Clean Trauma is a very short record, with most of its songs never passing the three minute mark, and it comes to show how direct it is. There is no room for fillers or songs that don’t fully fit – every single sound is here for a reason and helps to tell the story.
On Clean Trauma, however, there is a somewhat big change in the dynamics we’ve heard before – especially the vocals. This album doesn’t feature much of the back and forth singing from both Swdish-born singer Lina Sophie and producer Richey Rose; Lina mostly sings by herself. This newfound dynamic really highlights both of their strengths, as Richey’s production sounds fuller and more nuanced much like Lina’s layered vocals. Across the eight tracks, we get to see the band exploring new melodies and soundscapes that make it sound comforting and alive from the very start until the final chords and it sounds so good, really.
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“Though we were embracing a sonic change we still wanted to stay true to our songwriting formula, which focuses on two main elements: catchy, memorable hooks and dark, introspective lyrics”, Lina Sophie herself says about the new album. “We’ve always said we want to make people dance and sing along in the moment and then contemplate the lyrical meaning later on when the hook is stuck in their head”, she concludes and nothing could sum up Clean Trauma as perfectly as this.
Album opener “Killer” comes with a music video that perfectly sums up what the record is about: which is: souls connecting. The video features lovely homemade footage of sightings across the city with the two of them having fun, intertwined with live cuts from the two of them performing, and everything about it brings a smile to your face the second you press play and there’s a cute cat, too! The track features a bubbly atmosphere, with gorgeous vocal harmonies and an impeccable guitar work that can remind you of something from Hatchie’s Giving the World Away.
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From the pulsating synths and slow tempo on “Sorry” to the fierce guitars and uplifting melodies on “Owen”, Songs for Sabotage have really outdone themselves by carefully selecting what their music is about and making it the centerfold. “That’s also something we try to carry through to our visuals – a yin/yang, dark/light approach,” adds producer and multi-instrumentalist Richey Rose. “We’re huge fans of minimalism/less is more… always trying to strip it back and only utilize what’s absolutely necessary… both in sound and vision”.
Their second album comes as a new, more approachable direction to their signature sound and feels like the perfect time for their big breakthrough. They are more than ready for the recognition, and Clean Trauma comes to show excellent songwriting skills and world building. It’s a sonically cohesive record, that takes turns and circles around a very simple idea: to make good music. And they have succeeded.
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@Songs4Sabotage’s thoughtful and masterful second record “Clean Trauma”
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— Jpgchief (@Jpgchief) March 13, 2024
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It also helps to stream and share their music; you can find it in the following Playlists: Less Than 1,000 Followers, Fresh Singles, Indie Only, , Alterindie State Of Mind, Female Rising Stars, 12 New Songs This Week, Unknown But Essentials!, and Sickest & Dopest.
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the center didn’t hold