“Who really are Two Shell?” It’s presumably probably the most continuously requested query amongst dance music followers because the mysterious group burst onto the scene with 2022 garage-pop hit ‘Residence’. The group have by no means revealed their actual identities, as a substitute giving a handful of nameless interviews – even being rumoured to rent actors to masquerade as Two Shell and play pre-recorded DJ units.
Their elusive anonymity arguably provides to their mass attraction. They signify the everyman within the dance music world; somebody who can’t solely take pleasure in membership tracks, but in addition make it large by producing them. On their debut album, ‘Two Shell’, one factor is abundantly clear: a typical Two Shell monitor is immersive, experimental and playful, rejecting the inflexible categorisation of dance genres.
Two Shell’s manufacturing shines. ‘harm any individual’ is an nearly 6-minute lengthy music that includes placing synths and syncopated drum patterns, wistfully positioned behind a looped vocal singing “can I actually harm any individual?” – sufficient to ship a clubber into hypnosis on the dancefloor. In the meantime, ‘inside’ captures emotional duality with its uplifting melodies juxtaposed in opposition to a extra introspective undertone, inviting listeners right into a reflective area.
The album additionally brings warmth and tempo by fusing well-liked dancefloor genres. ‘Be any individual’ brings components of hyperpop, storage and damaged beat collectively utilizing a fragmented, pitched-up vocal pattern in opposition to a rhythmic drum sample. In the meantime, ‘Mirror’ is a speedy monitor which takes the tempo of electro and melds it with glitchy techno-like sounds and off-kilter beats, to keep up a body-moving movement.
Two Shell have a knack for utilizing daring, attention-grabbing samples – the type that pursuits not solely eagle-eyed WhoSampled heads but in addition major-label legal professionals with prestigious purchasers. ‘spherical’, a chopped-up and warped monitor utilizing vocals from the Sugababes’ 2002 hit ‘Spherical Spherical’, was teased to followers throughout their DJ units and at all times reportedly obtained roaring reactions. Excitingly, the Sugababes’ unique (and present) lineup of Mutya, Keisha, and Siobhan re-recorded their vocals particularly for Two Shell, inserting a variety of religion in Two Shell and their sampling skills.
There may be slight room for enchancment; these songs could possibly be higher stylistically blended and harmoniously married to make a extra cohesive physique. The leap from the frivolous, bouncy finish notes of ‘rock stable’ is overly juxtaposed by the ethereal synth work in the beginning of ‘harm any individual’, giving the movement of this album a barely jarring really feel.
But credit score should be given for the album’s suitability to its supposed dwelling: performed out by a sound system to sweaty, hedonistic crowds. At a time when dance music is changing into sooner, sillier, and all-round headier, the general sonic identification of ‘Two Shell’ is a real marker of the instances. Full of USB-ready tracks which are energetic and experimental, ‘Two Shell’ positions the enigmatic group as flag-bearers of a daring new period.
Particulars
- Launch date: October 25, 2024
- Document label: Younger
