Face+Heel - We Can Swim

Within the overflow of alternative R&B musicians mostly try to distinguish themselves by chocking up their music: more electronics, vocal variation and experimentation, adding and blending more varying genres or different structures within songs. Almost no one tries to take a step back and start with the basis principle of R&B: the sensuality. But the UK duo Face+Heel definitely do take this step back. Their new song My Medyk feels like a haven of peace in between al the extravagance of their colleagues. The tranquillity reminds me of Rhye, while the production shows similarities with Inc.

The song starts with an a cappella feel. The focus is on the vocals; the tender voice of the female lead singer and the perfect guidance by male vocals. The lyrics are simple – ‘my medic, my medic, it’s got to feel better than this’ – but strong. The production is diverse: minimalistic parts get alternated by some unnecessary electronic Johhny ‘Guitar’ Watson’s Bow Wow-like parts; the only disappointment of the song. Without these parts My Medik would be a lot more coherent, but the refreshing other parts of the song compensate this misstep. You don’t need much more than the chemistry of two voices, which is there for sure.