PREMIERE: TALKING WITH HANDS AND TELEFONE’S SPLIT EP IS “THE SHIT”
Navigating the world takes a lot of sifting through the weeds of bullshit.
Talking With Hands and Telefone explore this process in their split EP “The Shit,” filled with sonically heavy and spiritually sarcastic tracks that showcase the collaborative and playful nature of the two acts.
While the two were uninvolved in either’s initial writing process, upon learning of their endeavors towards the general theme of “shit,” they just had to combine the tracks. This fact would never be obvious, though – the two acts have a chemistry that immediately meshes into a full-fledged, seamless piece.
The EP starts out with two tracks from Talking with Hands, the brainchild of Matt Smith. The track “Hot Shit” explores the rebellious nature of youth. Smith adopts a playful, sarcastic tone that almost amplifies this theme. As the heavy bass pierces your headphones, before you know it, you're dropped into the hypnotic chorus.
The track has a tinge of classic rock with a modern spirit, made true by an epic guitar solo and drawn-out melodies. It almost feels like an ode to a younger rockstar’s ego, one that will eventually grow up.
The next track, “Tell Me Your Sins,” bounces off the momentum of the previous song but takes on a more intense, surf rock-esque riff. The banging drums keep the song moving like a chugging train.
It's nothing but heavy – from guitar star power to that same deep bass, almost taking on a hardcore breakdown halfway. It then unexpectedly branches into a mystical orchestra sound at the end to conclude Talking with Hands’ section of the split EP.
The last two tracks of the EP were recorded by Telefone in an unconventional way. While one-third of the band lived in Spain and the other two in Texas during the recording process, it showed the band could make it work no matter what.
Telefone bounces off the already-established rich energy with “ESP,” using those same brash riffs and heavy bass. The muffled vocals mesh with each up and down of the track, taking you on a roller coaster melody. There’s a shaking sound that builds up the chorus effortlessly; "Pick up your broken heart, and burn every single part.” The motifs of fire and transformation make the track extra special.
The big hitter is the vocal layering, adding a dynamic sound that almost transforms it into something a bit psychedelic, while merging with the original hardness through an epic guitar solo.
The last track, “Bullshit,” starts in a whimsical, early Panic! At The Disco fashion. It has that sarcastic tone that’ll leave a smirk on you while listening. It ties into the comical tone pioneered earlier by Talking with Hands, adding another layer of “shit” to this life. It’s a call to action to take accountability for all the “bullshit” in your own and others’ lives.
The strum of a light-toned guitar also adds a touch of dreaminess. It has many different sounds that may sound conflicting, but end up layering flawlessly.
‘The Shit’ is full of twists and turns, with a general sardonic theme that still manages to take itself and its talent seriously. For not working on the songs directly together, Talking With Hands and Telefone are able to create some serious magic. Merging these tracks definitely worked in the two artists’ favor, creating a bountiful and diverse body of work for the two to leap off of.
