Sometimes you need music that’s loud and proud and unafraid to shout to the world. Other times, music can be laid back and bring out different perspectives in a tame and predictable manner. Xitlalic Faraday finds the perfect balance between consistency and an ever-changing style with their song Something to Prove. This track brings back a lot of the adventurous spirit of the new wave era, but wraps itself in modern sensibilities and a well-crafted mix that nobody will mistake for something outlandish. There is a lot of harmonic bite and an evolving, busy arrangement that somehow never passes the verge of being dynamic. It’s hard to imagine a song that does so much without ever noticeably changing its overall volume. Producers, take note.
Something to Prove has a lot of echoes and effects gingerly placed over layered vocal lines. The lines aren’t always clear, but that definitely helps create a tone of self-interpretation. This isn’t boring ambient music. It has notable hip hop and electronic influences that almost seem to translate through the lens of a front man destined for shoegaze greatness. Just when you have the groove down, a new element is introduced. XF definitely has something to show, but it’s hard to accuse them of having something to prove.