British singer-songwriter Charlotte OC recently released "Blackout" as a teaser for her upcoming full length debut album from Harvest Records, which should be released in 2017. It will probably remind familiar listerners of "Feeling Strange": both tracks rely on O'Connor's haunting and evocative vocals to propel the track forward as she sings about her quasi-spiritual need for intimacy:
'Cause I never wanted to be unfoundSuddenly I am the stranger in townWhen all of the colorsYou know that they all blackoutCan you wake, can you wakeCan you wake me up?Can you take, can you takeCan you take me up?I can't wait, I can't waitI can't waitCause it's been long enough'
Lyrics: Genius
The atmospheric melody is created via an acoustic guitar, claps and a thumping kick drum - the same kind of minimalist production (and central metaphor) that allowed her vocals to enter the spotlight on her first EP Colour My Heart (2013). This formula suits her well (the track will undoubtedly grow on you), and I've always been a fan of her occultist undertones - but this single isn't distinctive enough to secure the acclaim that her talent deserves. Hopefully the future album will prove to be a genuine breakthrough that fully fleshes out the potential of her aesthetic.
