Chloe Hotline’s new song turns the photogenic stillness of summer into an ambiguous dream.
Chloe Hotline is having an interesting year. Her music over the last few months has arrived bristling with power yet slightly muted by an ever-cautious tone of voice, a voice that drags forward an emotional response by precariously balancing confidence and fragility. On her latest track, “Fantasy”, Chloe’s inflections are staggeringly authentic. Potential difference – better known as voltage – comes to mind, as the space between Chloe’s faith and withdrawal applies electric pressure.
By the time the listener enters the “Fantasy” it’s already in disrepair. “This ended my fantasy, these walls they seem to talk and always stare at me” lands with restraint on the hook. Lyrically the song is mild, though some bars jump out for their contrast; “Finally feel like I’m in my own world” is a jarring flip on the chorus, a moment of strength as Chloe Hotline embraces and permeates this space despite its dangers and imperfections. Similar feelings run through songs like “Izudown” off of Hotline’s last album “+NSTYNCT”. There, the sentiment was anxiety as Chloe tried to reach out. On “Fantasy”, the world she wants is found, and though it’s not what she expected, she reckons with it by remaining true to her own artistic methods – “I had a hard time paying attention” evolves rapidly into “send the whole world a message”
“Fantasy” is a humid, dreamlike, and slightly ferocious bounce track. Self-produced and heavily embossed with samples and effects, the beat twists like a whirlpool around strict percussion. Everything is quantized, everything snaps as you’d expect, but there’s enough going on to let this track live up to its genre; the kicks especially live up to the ‘bounce’ name, round and smooth with a satisfying bass undercurrent. Other drums range from itchy to soothing. At times the artist’s voice becomes part of the ensemble – “bounce for the hotline” becomes its own sample at the song’s start, which again reinforces ambiguity “Fantasy” runs fast; strings oscillate between similar chords to keep everything within reach. Beyond the philosophy, this is a tune for summer through and through, a heat-stricken musical isotope, radiating blurred colour.
Listen to “Fantasy” here.
Follow Chloe Hotline on Twitter, Instagram, Soundcloud, Spotify, and Apple Music.
– Jamie (Staff @108MICS)
108MICS 