The debut studio album by the electro-pop maestro EDEN is a change in sound to his previous works, one seemingly more mature and toned down, more calm and collected. After his first two EPs, End Credits and i think you think too much of me, both of which were very electronically energetic and youthful, vertigo introduces a more refined sound, with thematic elements of self-discovery, retrospection, and emotional moments. It feels like a personal diary, looking through the pages of years-old entries and seeing the growth but at the same time remembering the highs and lows that have come to define him.
His prowess at electronic music and songwriting have clearly grown into full bloom, seeing his comfortability at both using it tastefully and completely avoiding it. His soundscapes are past the days of vibrant explosions and colourful moments, now featuring a more tranquil and thoughtful design. Although some points in the tracklist still have that momentary zestfulness reminiscent of tracks like Wake Up or Circles, the overall musical style has definitely become more serene.
Although EDEN has never been subpar at crafting meaningful lyrical content, vertigo is massively focused on the sentiment in his words, and in the stories they tell. I adore the way he can write about subjects so personal to him, in a way that feels vulnerable and distinct, while allowing us to feel a connection to these songs. Some of these tracks have a very poetic sense to it, especially the three tracks that feature a double slash separating two opposites for a title.
vertigo feels complete, from start to finish, as a work of art representing the emotional journey of personal self-reflection. The intro track wrong is so musically raw as an acapella and lyrically sets the scene for the starting point of the journey. Throughout the tracklist are a lot of songs written in his perspective, as he contemplates his life and relives moments, and allows emotions of happiness, sadness, anger and guilt show in his music, all with a hint of hindsight. The penultimate track, love; not wrong (brave), is a passionate declaration of hope, with a contrastingly positive tone and an inspirational message both to him and his listeners. Yet, the record closes off with a more sombre track, one that remembers the struggles and chooses to be more realistic, one that's still hopeful but knows the pains of living. A gripe some may have with this album is that the tracks don't feel too distinct enough, and although I do agree it's frustrating looking at the tracklist and not being able to identify the individual songs, I think it's addition to the overall album experience compensates for it. The way the songs blur together and melds adds so much to the immersion of the record, allowing you to sink into the music.
I just love the humanness reflected in this album, it's full of sentiment and emotion, and leaves a lasting impression as a record made for the heart, if you spin it enough times to fully absorb it the way EDEN intended it to be heard. Of course, it's definitely not the easiest to listen to, with it's gloomier feel and lack of pop-esque hooks and catchiness, an aspect which did deter me at first, but I've learned to love the sound of it and nowadays I find it simply underappreciated. What I loved most about EDEN with his EPs, his ability to evoke emotion so authentically and viscerally, has been polished and touched up in this album, but doing so in a mature and poised manner, and I love that about it.
Rating: 10/10