“Alice” is one hell of a trip. Punchy, quirky, unique, and deliciously poppy, it’s my first experience with LA-based, D-I-Y producer Madge, and it’s one I couldn’t easily shake after only one listen through.
Opening with what sounds like a sample from an classic suspense movie, it’s impossible to peg where the track is going to end up. Even beyond that, you’ll still be guessing after the crunchy guitar riff and childlike voices kick in. In fact, you might expect someone to come in and lay down a hot hip hop verse. Instead though, you’re welcomed into softly-sung, ethereal vocals. It’s such a jarring juxtaposition, and one that works beautifully.
Those alternating sections, of both her and and the children’s playful chatter, are a purposeful representative of the destructive voices in Madge’s head. Seemingly normalized by the playful, funky bassline, and flute-like synths, it’s an intent-based structure that has layers beyond what you’ve come to expect from your run-of-the-mill pop.
“Alice” explores themes of trauma, pleasure, and shame as experienced in the form of a personal poltergeist. Almost all the lyrics have double entendre and the narrative is both literal and metaphorical. Alice is dangerous even though she’s dead – the nature of trauma itself.
Madge just recently broke into the scene, with “Alice” being her third release. Make sure to keep tabs on her and more intriguing releases in moving forward.
Related items:
