Planningtorock - Powerhouse

Planningtorock
Powerhouse
2018
Spotify

It's often hard to define music that we consider "non-binary". We are forced to confront situations that are not black and white as well as see things from a different perspective than our own. Since 2014 that has been the idea behind Jam Rostron's music. After leaving England for Berlin, Rosron found a new cultural mecca and a way to express themselves in an entirely new way. Their version of electropop on this album is syrupy and imbued with a lifetime of experience. It feels like SOPHIE but far more pop rooted rather than theatrical. Rostron finds these wonderful small moments to play on, then uses dance breaks to propel the record forward. "Somethings More Painful Than Others" has this absolutely pained message to it, with the same haunting auto-tuned vocals you'll find throughout, but then has this beat that rivals any of the best House you've heard. There is such a light touch used on Powerhouse, sort of shirking the idea of what powerful music actually is. Sure Rotron could have made an explosive, massive record but the decision to look inward is a far more compelling one. You find yourself fully engrossed, exploring this spiral shaped world that is constantly shifting and changing around you. The "non-binary" language here also give it a totally different dimension than anything else in this space. The masculine and feminine leanings are given equal footing and you are easily able to place yourself, whomever you may be, right inside of these songs.

The minimal compositions on this record are so damn compelling. "Jam of Finland" is a simple beat but it becomes so much more once the vibe and the vocals take over. "Non Binary Femme" is playful and dynamic in a way that the rest of the album is not, yet the lyrics still carry a heavy amount of weight. There is this constant push and pull between creating something avante garde and diverse while also trying to create a damn bop. Planningtorock succeeds on both fronts, making their music pop ready as well as incredibly interesting for the high minded set. Everything on this album is pushing to resolve the trauma of growing up in a world where you feel you don't fit in. Rostron wasn't allowed to express themselves growing up in the way they actually felt. This album provides that freedom, but does not try to sweep the darker moments under the rug. "Beulah Loves Dancing" recounts a tale of Rostron's sister dancing so loud to House music that the home shook. It is one of the most fun moments on the record and shows just how deep Rostron's love for House goes. Powerhouse is truly an achievement, and one more people should know about. It's a dynamic and empowering record, just when we need it.

9.0 out of 10