Paper Crows are cool. They sound so effortless, yet passionate. Unique, but familiar. They’re delicate, but hard-hitting. We could probably think of some other juxtapositions, but you only really want to know is what they actually sound like, right? Well, they’re electronic, with a touch of ambience and a penchant for addictive piano riffs – essentially, they make beautiful music that happens to fall into the bracket of pop.
There are traces of Kate Havnevik and Imogen Heap in the female vocals, but they have a feel for organic instrumentation too – it’s not all synths and keys. If you’re a fan of Kate Bush, you’ll want to head straight to White Noise, which channels the sonic beauty of Cloudbusting thanks to its pensive strings and touches of electronic ambience. Emma Panas is able to show off her tender, passionate vocals which, when teamed with Duncan McDougall’s gorgeous male voice, brings in an inimitable and perfectly honed delivery that is certainly worth boasting about. The voice of Paper Crows is neither Panas’ nor McDougall’s, though – it’s the almost choral magic that they conjure together that can lift any chorus into the dizzying heights of euphoria.
Pieces of Yourself and Changing Colours have slight touches of Coldplay to them, giving a mammoth arena-ready feel that comes directly from the twinkling piano hooks and touching trip-hop electronics. It’s a treat to listen to a band that care little about being artsy and mysterious and instead go for enormous choruses and familiar vibes that work together to initiate something unique, and their music really is something that Paper Crows can call their own.
We’ve predicted big things for a few artists over the years, and we’ve learnt that, tragically, brilliant music alone will not necessarily get you the rewards you deserve. We’re willing to admit that breakthrough success will only come with the right breaks and a hell of a lot of support. We can rest assured, however, that Paper Crows have one flawless weapon in their possession, and that is their astonishing, breathtaking music that deserves to be heard by as big an audience as possible. We hope they make it big.