Amsterdam's
Pip Blom have always known how to write a proper indie banger, which makes their sharp left turn into synthpop territory on 'Grip EP' feel like watching your favourite pub suddenly install a light-up dancefloor.
Opening track '
Temporary Love' sets an optimistic tone with its bubbly synths and infectious chorus. The production sparkles with a newfound polish, though longtime fans might miss the scrappy charm of their earlier work. '
Upside Down' follows a similar template, calling to mind the electronic indie-pop experiments of the late 2000s while never quite reaching those heights.
The middle section of the EP loses some momentum. '
Drift' and '
Ring' feel like exercises in style over substance, with their glitching synths and dance-oriented production failing to really deliver. The songs aren't bad per se, but they lack the urgency and personality that made Pip Blom's previous work so charming.
Closing track '
Someday' perhaps offers the most promise, ironically by pulling back from the electronic elements that dominate the rest of the EP. Here, the band find a sweet spot between their guitar-based origins and new electronic ambitions, creating something fresh and authentic.
