ALBUM REVIEW: ANTIBOY Will Forever Be Living Art Through His New Album
ALBUM REVIEW: ANTIBOY Will Forever Be Living Art Through His New Album
This posthumous album is bringing a new utopia to life
Words by: Sarah Dube
2020 is set to conclude with the revolutionary album from the late Harry Hains. Under the alias ANTIBOY, Harry’s family is carrying on their legacy by releasing their album A Glitch in Paradise. Throughout their life, they set out to break boundaries and create a label-less world. A Glitch in Paradise tells the story of ANTIBOY, a genderless trans-human who is working to right his wrongs and break the cycle of heart ache he finds himself in. Accompanied by a 3-D animated universe created by their brother Sam Hains, A Glitch in Paradise is so much more than just a music album.
The album starts off with the robotic, spoken word piece, “Riot.” This piece serves as a prologue to the rest of the album with glitching static effect and Harry’s voice overlapping itself in a powerful monologue. It’s followed by “Devil,” an electro-pop anthem that is sure to make its way to the club scene following its release. With an upbeat dance feel and dreamy vocals, “Devil” is an alluring track that will excite listeners as the album lives on repeat.
The most recent single to be released from the album was “Dream,” a darker track with stand out vocals. The track explores the dynamic of a decaying relationship and how an inability to accept love can affect a partner. Accompanying the release of the single was a music video featuring transgender model and activist Andreja Pejić. Draped in a visually stunning appeal with a bold teal color palette and animations from Sam Hains, the video features multiple androgynous actors displaying the fluidity of gender in a beautifully authentic way.
“Dream” is followed by the lead single off the record, “Good Enough.” Significantly slower and less robotic than its musical counterparts, it houses lyrics that delve into the fears one might face in a relationship. Emotions are on full display in this track as the lyrics plead for love and connection. A tough track to follow but “Machine” comes in strong almost as the complete opposite of its predecessor. The rigid beat and driving drum beat do its best to emulate a robotic machine. With these two tracks, the story of ANTIBOY begins to progress more and more.
The story continues with “Water and Wood,” which seems to stand alone from the album yet tucks to eloquently amongst the other tracks. The grooving beats and snaps are reminiscent of Arctic Monkeys and their signature bedroom-pop style. Sensual lyrics and deep vocals bring this track into the forefront. “Paradise” — one of the most powerful tracks from the album — tells the story of the toxic love with addiction. Harry’s mother Jane Badler has spoken openly about Harry’s struggle with addiction and this beautifully raw track is a reflection of his experience. The video that accompanied the release is pure magic featuring Sam’s beautiful animations of the fantasy utopia that’s just too good to be true.
“Candy” is a beautiful ballad featuring echoey vocals and a twinkling piano line. The track taps into childhood nostalgia and serves as the perfect display of Harry’s vocal and lyrical talents. Next on the album is “Perfume”, a lo-fi pop gem with a stunning musical progression and a catchy chorus. The final track on the album is a cover of “Bang Bang” by Nancy Sinatra. ANTIBOY’s version brings in electro-pop elements that bring new life to the classic song. It’s a fantastic way to finish off the album as it wraps up the themes laid out by the rest of the songs both musically and lyrically.
A Glitch in Paradise is a true work of art. It’s created a beautiful utopian world that aspires to be inclusive and accepting. As more videos and art are released around this album, the hope is that we can start to integrate the beauty of A Glitch in Paradise into our own reality.
