Logic1000 - ‘Mother’ review
Logic1000 by Claryn Chon
Following her single “Grown On Me” from last September, Samantha Poulter of Logic1000 is releasing Mother on 22 March, a debut album inspired by her relationship with motherhood.
EDM synth loops, vocal motifs, pulsing basses, crunchy percussive beats, and cutoff filter effects make up the electronic dance wonder that is the twelve-track Mother. The collaborations with Rochelle Jordan, singer-songwriter Kayla Blackmon, DJ Plead, and Miami-based vocalist MJ Nebreda, mark a defining moments on this album.
The introductory “From Within” is where Poulter plunges into a world of cutoff, vocal looping, and hypnotic D&B with some sizzling snare. An arp pad comes in to lift things, rippling through until the end where the song mutates out of focus in the last few seconds.
“Promises” (Feat. Rochelle Jordan) is a groovy melody where Jordan sings about Poulter’s rocky relationship with broken promises. It’s a sentimental piece with some definite contemporary R&B and pop influences. Jordan’s harmonious voice lifts the track, drenched in luscious reverb.
“Can’t Let Go” is an uplifting track, highlighting Poulter’s difficulties with maternal attachment, simply wanting love. Distorted vocal loops echo, panning around the spatial field, becoming clearer and more front and centre before glitching out of the song. A spunky bass, vibrating electronic chords, and a catchy drum rhythm form a simple backdrop.
In the next track, “Side By Side,” a grinding bass and sharp keys act as moments of musical clarity, playing ‘side by side.’ The clap and high-pitched ‘yeah’ provide a refreshing dopamine hit, appropriately juxtaposed with the other elements. This one features some nice experiments with cutoff filter and delay at various points, too.
Stabbing, gritty bass, resonant percussion, and bubbly synth keys complete “Self To Blame (Feat. Kayla Blackmon).” The song describes how Poulter feels she is the only person to blame in her relationships. Blackmon’s melodious vocals are like a glittering stream, smoothing over the track with her vocal charm. The lyric “you could broke” signals the meaning behind the next song, “Cartier.” An analogy for going ‘broke’ while spending too much money on Cartier jewels or, perhaps, Poulter is using it as a personal simile. The track is shaped by a bouncy key melody and a tight snare rhythm, fading into the next song.
“Saint Rex,” with its slightly off-beat rhythm and addictive keyboard riff has a shiny, sexy appeal, turning into a musical flow of varied textures. A rising bass picks up the pace now and then, along with the delayed vocal phrases. The interesting tonal colour of the keyboard creates a slightly unnerving feeling, yet it meshes well with the other instruments.
“All U Like” is a musical entrancement with an ethereal synth pad, an energetic beat, and a thick, heavy bass, merging to form a danceable tune. The bass really comes in at the reprise, punching out from underneath the track. The song ends with chilled synth chords as the electronic drums return for a final goodbye.
Next up is “Every Lil’ (Feat. DJ Plead and MJ Nebreda)” with MJ Nebrada serenading in Spanish. A peaceful ambient pad lingers in the background against a powerful drum ensemble – soloing at one point – and dramatic chords. This one has a bit of a cinematic vibe.
The second-to-last “Oceanic” features upbeat chords and a high-energy rhythm, weaving into the layers of the song and adding more depth, almost akin to rippling oceanic waves along with the delay. Strong Latin influences can be found in the percussion section.
Mother completes its ride with the popular single “Grown On Me,” released last year. A song about how Poulter’s child self has ‘grown on’ her, this one raises the spirits with its blossoming electronic sounds and Poulter’s sweet motif, “you’ve grown on me.”
Poulter has experimented with varying tones, instruments, effects, and last but not least, her creative partnerships in this new album. There’s a playfulness and a lightheartedness imbued in many of these songs. Logic1000 has embodied her identity as a mother here, paving the way forward for Mother to become one of the best electronic dance music albums of 2024.
Mother from Logic1000 is out 22 March via Because Music and available on all good streaming platforms.
