Sometimes you come across a record that seems to flip a genre on its head, truly reinvent the foundations upon which its built on while still holding just enough to make you recognise where the roots stem from. Pacing’s ‘hatemail’ takes the minimalism of folk, but entrenches it into something cathartically negative in tonality. Somehow combining elements of self deprecation, angst, and pure hatred, the quirky Pittsburgh based artist has brought to life a project that helps you deal with your own problems through succumbing to the mean voices in your head. The mixtape starts off bold and angry and gradually runs out of steam until the narrator is left standing alone, with no choice but to make friends with themselves.
The record is a delectably melodic piece of spritely indie pop/folk that feels optimistic and summery in tone, but contains within it a whole lot of emotional outpouring through a decidedly cathartic outlook. “hatemail” is divided into two parts: before and after Katie Mctigue’s ADHD diagnosis. The tune ‘Who has ADHD now lol’ serves as a sort of midway point where the record does break apart and split itself.
McTigue’s angelic vocal performance is a definitive highlight of the record. But it’s also the quirky arrangements, the subtleties across the record’s production, the ever so faint yet endearing backing vocals that really give the album its character. A wonderfully weird record from an emerging indie pop artist who can make any anxiety riddled person feel immediately at home.