Our favorite Canadian indie pop duo is back with another marvelous composition that will immediately wrap around your ears and refuse to let go long after the last notes and beats end. Wotts have always been a band that breaks conventions of indie pop music, and that’s the case with this song as well. By stacking not only the fundamental elements of indie pop music but an entire palette of different yet complementary genres into “little bug,” they crafted a calm, catchy, enchanting song that goes far beyond any expectations. Of course, the duo relies on those indie pop maneuvers the most, but you’ll unquestionably notice how some of the finest properties borrowed from dream pop, shoegaze, psych pop, synth rock, and indie rock elevate and decorate the entire track. Some of these additions are so subtle, while the others are almost dominant as the primary sonic direction, and altogether they define a luxuriant, ethereal, otherworldly ambiance. Also, let’s not forget that Wotts love experimenting with various approaches, techniques, directions, and styles, so “little bug” exemplifies their dedication to breaking rules and shapeshifting boundaries of so many genres at the same time. This song is not only a perfect addition to their already impressive discography, but a rock-solid proof that indie pop, when done right, can sound as innovative as it was decades ago.
What makes this track so good is that calm, soothing, relaxing, ethereal atmosphere that immediately penetrates your listening apparatus and transports you into a completely different universe. Wotts are the masters in crafting emotionally resonant songs, but it seems that with “little bug,” they achieved something completely unique. Those tender, mellow, beautiful vocal harmonies play a significant role in achieving that emotionally resonant sound, as they act as a centerpiece of this song, elevating each sonic and rhythmic maneuver on an entirely new level, commanding attention, and guiding listeners on an epic sonic journey through the expansive sonic universe. These soft harmonies, almost whispery at times, expertly balance low, mid, and high notes delivered through various instrumentations, emphasizing everything Wotts intended to achieve with this track. Besides decorating all those segments and orchestrations, these vocal maneuvers also contribute more than necessary emotional depth and complexity to an already intricate structure. You will also hear a subtle touch of studio reverb giving more depth, depth, and echo to vocals. In the meantime, the interplay between synths and guitars creates a perfect backdrop for all the vocals to shine upon. The synths deliver all those lush ambient pads, harmonies, and melodies, while the guitars contribute more complexity through jangly, angular chord progressions. The duo also applied generous ammounts of reverb and delay over those instrumentations, a very important effects that, in this case, twist, bend, and swirl all those beautiful notes.
Beneath all those lush synths and guitars, you’ll stumble upon a bass guitar, another very important instrument that brings more clarity, depth, and heftiness to this song without overwhelming other orchestrations. You’ll notice how all those low, deep, dense, warm, vividly hearable lines help out synths and guitars to shine even brighter in the mix, while simultaneously offering warmth, groove, and detail. Besides all of that, the bass guitar also binds all those orchestrations and rhythmic patterns together. And of course, this composition wouldn’t sound complete without equally impressive beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics. The drums keep everything in line while dictating groove and pace with such precision and finesse, offering even more groove, detail, and complexity to the song. Each hit of the snare, kick of the bass drums, accentuation on the hi-hat, and splash over the cymbals is vividly hearable in the mix, making this song such a pleasant listening experience. “little bug” is an absolute indie pop masterpiece, crafted by two incredible songwriters, producers, and musicians. Wotts constantly deliver magnificent, impressive, fascinating, beautiful music, but “little bug” must be their finest piece of work so far. It vividly demonstrates their songwriting, composing, arranging, and producing abilities, brilliant ideas, and musicianship, but also their tremendous dedication to the craft. If you’re looking for an ethereal, otherworldly indie pop music fully stacked with beautiful vocal harmonies, lush instrumentations, and moderate beats, then “little bug” will be right up your alley. Do not miss this gem!
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