London-based experimental collective caroline has returned with “Total euphoria,” a song too unorthodox to conform to a traditional structure, charging ahead like an out-of-control force of nature. Little is known for meticulous and immersive soundscapes, and the group’s latest release is a musical rush of adrenaline, an unpredictable mixture of unvarnished instrumentation and unbridled energy.
“Total euphoria” is fundamentally a collision of chaos and beauty. It opens with a karate-chop violinist, serrated, agitated, sharp, and insistent as a warning siren loitering in the air. Then, without warning, the song erupts into a maelstrom of corrosive electronics, with line rubbing against the line. The unorthodox rhythm, a broken rock beat, is how the notes describe it, contributing to the song’s off-kilter, kinetic energy, never settling into anything predictable. Instead, it pushes the listener forward, requiring your full attention as it shapeshifts in real time.
There’s something intensely physical about the way caroline crafts their music. “Total euphoria” is like euphoria in its pure, unvarnished form. It’s the moment of naked release in a packed hall, the immediacy of inspiration at its height, the kind of artistic gamble that reminds you why music is still one of the most potent kinds of art.
This comes after a quiet contemplation following their debut album, and “Total euphoria” is a sign of a band that has grown without losing its bite. This is caroline at their most ambitious, building sound in a way that feels brittle and volcanic, organized and unmoored. It’s a reminder not to forget that music doesn’t always have to be comfortable, that occasionally music isn’t nearly as exciting unless it violently webs you into the unknown.
With this track, caroline zoom into the spotlight at full speed, showing that their creative momentum shows no signs of slowing down. If “Total euphoria” indicates what’s to follow, the band’s future is positively incandescent.
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