NEW ARTIST: MÉNAGE A TROIS

Ménage à Trois is a trio from Manchester that makes music “from a place of love”. If the track “White Noise” is any indication of what said place of love could be like, it is what many of us would consider a place of aggravating, shrilling noise. The repetitive disco rifts and inaudible vocals seem to go on forever (and ever and ever) with no particular purpose or end in sight.

Though clearly, the dancey-Forever-21-playlist-esque track didn’t win me over, the video is distinguishing, visually captivating and a welcomed surprised from a relatively unknown, and most likely, low-budget group. Shot in New York, the unexpected peculiar elements add a whimsical flare to the urban setting, providing a unique take on customary metropolitan shot music videos.

Steering away from the (overly) upbeat nature of "White Noise," the soft rock ballad “Don’t Break My Heart” admirably balances crystal clear vocals with delicate instrumentals in a way only a mature vocalist is capable of. The lyrics aren’t exactly noteworthy: “Please be careful not to break it, just remember it’s the only one I got, don’t break my heart” —though the simplistic lyrics are easily overlooked as the vocalist passionately repeats the hook with restraint and finesse.

Though it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, Ménage à Trois captures a sound that feels authentic to the era and genre they are clearly influenced by—a quality that’s sadly missing in a lot of new music.