ReinFreedom
Playground

- Swedes are always coming up with out of the box ideas in the music field, and upcoming electronic-punk producer and songwriter Rein is no exception. Her second EP FREEDOM captures the same left wing, anarchist values as her self-titled debut, spewing them over heavy bass lines and dark, industrial production.

Ominous descending chords open the five track EP with a start, first track Missfit concreting the tone of the record. Starting off bittersweet and transitioning to appropriately angry, it showcases Reins’ “singing voice” more than on other tracks. Single C.A.P.I.T.A.L.I.S.M speaks for itself through its blunt and literal lyrics, with phrases such as ‘we are the slaves of money’, speaking the untold truth of modern day society. How someone can turn the word ‘capitalism’ into a catchy refrain is impressive, and Rein has mastered that skill, with phonetic variations of the word layered over a pulsing electronic mix.

You Call It (Democracy) utilises vocal enhancers and other impressive production values, making it one of the most dynamic songs on the EP. The softer, quietly spoken lyrics in Bruises combined with the frantic beats install a sense of panic and fragility. The final track on the record is a collaboration piece with spoken word poet Nina Mariah Donovan, and her empowering poem Nasty Woman is mixed over a disjointed electronic mix. It doesn’t flow as well as it should in theory, but in terms of the ideas Rein wants to promote it’s perfect.

The record is dripping in punk influences on top of the obvious minimalistic EBM sounds, which is why the music works so cohesively with the lyrics and content. They say politics and punk go hand in hand, and this is definitive in this case. The overall tone of the record is aggressive without being too abrasive; questioning rather than complaining.

Electronic music has a penchant for being bland and lacking in the ‘importance’ department, however, Rein has managed to create the right blend of minimalist EBM with attitude, and her politically conscious point of view is refreshing for a young artist. She has the spark for now, but how much teenage angst can one bottle up before spontaneous combustion or acceptance? Keep that flame burning sister: just so you know, I can keep my fist raised and rhythmically pumping the air, as long as you can pump out the ideological jams.

- Olivia Shoesmith.

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