Allie X Drops a Pristine Debut Single With “Catch”
First singles this strong don't come along too often
Perfect debut pop singles might be the musical equivalent of Halley’s Comet: they’re extremely rare and unfortunately fleeting, streaking past blogs and SoundCloud pages like a bolt through the night sky. Consult your telescopes: “Catch” is the first single released by enigmatic L.A.-via-Toronto performer Allie X, and it shines with a level of polish and craft that’s remarkable given its lack of precedent.
Allie’s crystalline vocals are immediately reminiscent of the work of other synth-friendly female singers, like CHVRCHES’ Lauren Mayberry and Purity Ring’s Megan James, but “Crush” transcends that basic familiarity; it glows on the strength of its structure, attention to detail, and lyrics that’ll leave squeamish listeners scrubbing goosebumps from their arms. Don’t let that last bit keep you from hitting play: the chorus’ll be glowing in your head long after the dose of body horror fades.
The Best Song Of 2014 So Far Belongs To Someone Named Allie X: Listen To “Catch”
Here’s what we know about Allie X. She’s from Toronto but spends a lot of time in L.A. She has some cool GIFs of herself on Tumblr. Oh, and she has just dropped the best song of the year so far. Her debut single, “Catch,” is everything that’s wonderful about under-the-radar pop music right now: immaculate hooks, pristine synth work, vocal versatility, bold atmospherics and a beating, bursting heart.
The lyrics and chorus are so self-assured for a debut it’s uncanny, and Allie X’s voice has a pleasant lilt to it that brings to mind CHVRCHES‘ Lauren Mayberry. Once she sings “Just wait until I catch my breath” at the chorus, everything coalesces into a sleek wall of sound, and it is glorious.
