Album Review: Infancy by The Ninth Wave

Image via iTunes.

Infancy by The Ninth Wave is an album I love because putting one genre label on it is difficult. On the surface, it could be classified as rock or to get niche — synthrock or to get even more niche — goth pop. But as the album goes on, more and more elements that extend beyond these come into play. The harmonies between Hadyn Park-Patterson and Millie Kidd are shared across songs that make you want to get up and dance as well as a few that make you want to sit and look out the window on a rainy day. Hooks can be shouted emphatically or sung subtlely. We have several instrumental bridges where new sounds are introduced or ones we already heard get modified and these follow this same theme of diversity. Split into two parts, Infancy is an album with high energy, catchy hooks and transparent lyrics.

Lead singer Hadyn’s vocals are one of my favorite elements of the album. He has a distinct delivery that has a unique smoothness in a low register that escalates as necessary. Millie’s contrasting airy light vocals make the harmonies as I mentioned earlier truly special. This comes through most prevalently on “Used to be Yours” where Millie takes the lead. The two of them give a semi call and response hook where Hadyn’s low register “Isn’t that what everyone is afraid of?” responds to Millie’s “So incapable of being alone” Her vocals transform into the melody of the song on the second half much like we’ve seen Kid Cudi, Travis Scott and others do. It’s a moment where the melancholy yet upbeat atmosphere of the song takes on a different emotional meaning. This emotion continues on “Human Behavior” with Hadyn taking the lead this time. The piano is the perfect accompaniment to his vocals that reach a peak when the hooks comes in. While he is shouting, it’s more of a release of sadness than anger. Millie joins him on the hook the third time around and her bridge has a repeated riff that sets the perfect tone for a small moment of rest before the hook comes barreling back in.

As I mentioned, one of the labels put on this type of music is “goth pop” and this comes through very clearly on “All The Things We Do” and “Everything That You Have Left”. Both of these songs have a high tempo and pulsing drums that make it instantly danceable. The hooks are easy to remember and fun to sing and yet considering all of this, the songs are still layered to the point of them still sounding distinct. “Everything That You Have Left” has a bassline that almost sounds video game-esque and keys that almost sit in the background of everything else going on. Halfway through the song the bassline completely changes and gets even more full. Right before taking over the song, it drops out and we get the harmonies between Hadyn and Millie on full display with minimal instrumentation. Shortly after this the melody of the song changes yet again and the bassline we fell in love with returns. “All the Things We Do” trades in all these changes and layers for an infectious hook with exciting drums and a guitar that drops in most prominently on the hook and gives it an extra burst of energy that capitalizes on the energy already flowing throughout the whole song.

There are rock elements all over Infancy but the most straightforward rock songs would have to be “Imitation” “Half Pure” and “Flower into Wounds” with the latter being the album closer. All of these have high energy and more aggressive drums and guitars than the rest of the tracks with “Flower Into Wounds” having almost a minute long instrumental outro. With hooks that serve as energy raising earworms, these are easily ones I could see blasting through an arena. The repetition of the outro of “Half Pure” is a perfect head-banging moment that lasts just long enough that you won’t hurt yourself if you’re not used to doing it. “Sometimes the Silence is Sweeter” and “First Encounters” have melodies that are easy to get entranced by as they both walk the line of not knowing if they are coming from an instrument or someone’s voice — or both. The former was the first song I ever heard by the band and its almost vintage-like sound while still feeling modern pulled me directly in.

Infancy is an album for those who like rock music but want some creative and unique techniques used within it. The Ninth Wave executed this very well and while sometimes the lyrics can be a little difficult to understand, their delivery paired with the instruments still make them stand out. At only 12 tracks across its two parts, the album is the ideal length to get a full filler free experience of the talent and high yet layered energy the band has.

Favorite Tracks: Used to be Yours, Half Pure, First Encounters, Flower into Wounds, Sometimes the Silence is Sweeter

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