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There’s an evolution across the four songs comprising Fairy Boat’s debut EP. What begins as velvety trip-hop adjacent pop hardens into organic lite R&B. The throughline is its thousand thread-count production and soaring but forceful vocals. While some of these songs loop sumptuous beats and others crackle with single-coil guitars, there’s a clear and consistent vision behind the work. It’s chill but also assertive, the musical equivalent of a hot knife through butter: not in a hurry to get where it’s going, but nothing’s going to stop it from getting there. 

 

The two most consistent factors here are the vocals and the progressions. Most of these songs saunter through a minor key progression, no huge risks taken along the way. The vocals do the melodic heavy lifting, but they emphasize cadence rather than melody. There’s a fair amount of rap-singing (that’s a stretch though) that elicits a Dessa comparison, but while Dessa might lean into sharp consonants, Fairy Boat is at home in their soft edges. Theres an altogether sultry vibe that at times has me thinking Sadé – which is no light comparison. 

 

Each track showcases a different strength. The opener “Choices” weaves through a programmed backing track, while the too-brief “Leave a Message” hints at its “Smooth Operator” influence. EP standout “Slowdown” showcases some classy guitarwork and educated progressions to spice up the flow. The final track “What'sthePoint” foregrounds its existential grasping-at-straws in the lyricism, which, while it makes for a strange juxtaposition to its easygoing groove, opens the door to a more impactful listening experience than just a chill mood and classy vibes.

 

Fairy Boat’s debut EP is a strong showing of multi-talented musicianship, accomplished compositions, and savvy production. There’s more nuance than standard ear candy R&B, but Fairy Boat doesn’t skimp on the hooks either. This EP is a rare blend of depth and escapism, pulled off with effortless style.