2.O.F.’s “Darling Anna”
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- July 15, 2019
There’s not much – if anything – about 2.O.F.’s “Darling Anna” that would qualify as typical by mainstream standards. For example, take the hook in the chorus; Tim Milliken is pushing the vocal track hard into the synths in the background, but there clash is anything but discordant. They’re fused together as one, peppered with a seductive percussive texture and magnified by a scooped EQ in the mix that, despite being associated with rock and metal more than it is electropop, makes perfect sense for this particular song. 2.O.F. is all about making music that goes against the grain without spilling into the pitfalls that come with avant-gardism, and in “Darling Anna,” we’re able to get a sense of what the project is capable of doing with an admittedly barebones composition.
We’ve got a clubby energy to the beat here, but it’s not over the top at all. This track is a ballad through and through, and yet the patterned drumbeat has the look and feel of a decelerated EDM groove that could easily erupt into its true form if it were sped up and amplified with a heavier bassline. The tempo is that of a slow jam, but the new wave-influenced synth parts eliminate any allusions to R&B or funk. It would be really intriguing to see a remix of this song by an outside party that wasn’t involved in the original recording process, and I have a feeling that there will be plenty of DJs over the summer who won’t hesitate to deliver something along those lines.
The lead vocal is a force to be reckoned with in “Darling Anna,” but it’s the instrumental swagger that commands the lion’s share of our attentions in this single. No matter how many times I listen to this track, it’s difficult for me to remain focused on the lyrical content exclusively; there’s just too much emotionality, and frankly, too much action going on beyond the microphone that there are some moments where the verses feel like more of an afterthought than the most opulent of crown jewels in this treasure chest. The same can’t be said for The Machine’s title track and the fluorescent “Birthday,” which is primarily why I think this song was chosen to serve as a single in promotion for 2.O.F’s first official EP.
There’s room for this project grow and cultivate the sound exemplified in The Machine a bit more moving forward, but I definitely recommend giving “Darling Anna” some of your attention this July. This has been a brilliant season for underground pop in the United Kingdom, and what 2.O.F. accomplish here is definitely a highlight for music journalists like myself. Singles like this one don’t demand a whole lot out of the audience in exchange for a wealth of inspirational verses, exotic rhythm, pointed but relatable rhymes, and a rollicking groove that will keep you swaying all through the summertime. I like an involved listen as much as the next music enthusiast does, but every now and again a song like “Darling Anna” comes around and induces more chills with a simple beat than even the most elaborate of experimental compositions ever could.
Michael Rand
The music of 2.O.F. has been heard all over the world due to the promotional services offered by Danie Cortese Entertainment & Publicity. Learn more here – http://www.daniecorteseent.com/
