A mix of dreamy electropop and much headier trip-hop, “Light Decline” by Great Area (stylized as great area) is a short but powerful album. It is packed with unique sounds on every track that made this album’s short length feel deceptively longer. At the end of the 16 minute run time I found myself wanting more. Somehow though, this album didn’t feel incomplete. It felt as though it was exactly as long as it needed to be. Despite its diminutive runtime it is a complete thought, each song presents its own unique spin on the artist’s musical style.
The album opens with samples of robotic beeping, like a machine repeatedly starting up. After a few seconds of this, synths hum to life in the background and the singer cuts in, voice deep and hypnotic. While it is clear she is an excellent singer, her voice is almost completely monotone. Some of the singing on the album feels much more akin to chanting. Combined with electronic elements that create a world of dreamy nostalgia, the singer pulls the song in a more pessimistic direction, her voice forces you to pay attention.
