I should probably begin this article with the disclaimer that in my eyes, Lorde can do no wrong. I will follow that with a promise to tell you why.
When praising Lorde (ha, ha) it is very tempting to launch into an attack on all other pop music released in the past three years. However, I will refrain from doing so, at least for the purposes of this article. There is definitely something to be said of the unique song writing talents that Lorde has shared with the world in her fast rise to fame. Pure Heroine offered us carefully constructed lyrics and melodies, in contrast to the mostly minimal approach that producer, Joel Little took to the production of each of the songs.
What is striking about Lorde’s work along with its refreshing lyrical content, is the fact that it is undoubtedly unique. The quality of Lorde’s vocal is simultaneously pure and gritty. It is both easy to listen to and difficult to forget. The singer’s collaboration with UK electronic sensation Disclosure, is no exception.
Magnets can be found on Disclosure’s 2015 studio album, Caracal. It quickly became the most successful song on the eleven track record. On listening to it, it’s not difficult to understand why. The song opens with a fast paced, repetitive and deliciously catchy drum sound and develops into a layered track that features an array of different percussive, synthesizer and interesting sound effects. The song follows the story of the singer, who describes a love affair with strong undertones of infidelity on the part of her lover. She is the “other woman” and it is unclear of whether or not she is aware of this. The song is definitely lyrically driven, and the production on Lorde’s vocal is varied and interesting. During the chorus it is often layered with rich alto versions of itself, and it becomes increasingly muffled as the song fades out and comes to a close.
Magnets has a very distinct mood to it. Lorde’s lyrical poetry and Disclosure’s intricate, fresh production make a beautiful combination. One small critique of the track would be that it is a little too short. However, it is possible that this is intentional, leaving listeners wanting more and playing Magnets on repeat. That has definitely been the case since the first time I listened to the collaboration.
