Short and Sweet | “Throwback Tears” by Valley.
Written by: Shauna Hilferty
The “getting over you” theme in songs is nothing new, yet Valley puts their own fresh spin on the tried and true trope every time. A synth-soaked, retrospective look at a past relationship, Valley is “on some new shit now” with their latest single “Throwback Tears.”
The song begins with Rob’s echoey voice accompanied by a hopeful piano melody that this indie-pop four piece has unofficially seemed to trademark. Their use of experimental vocal distortions following the first verse and as well as in the bridge have become synonymous with the band as they move into this more electro-pop sound. The addition of the acoustic guitar with the dreamscape background was a nice touch and corresponded well with the lyrics there. While the band maintains consistency with their lyrics and self-awareness, they are being slightly riskier with the sonics of their newer releases, incorporating these heavily altered voice notes and a sound that is weirdly and pleasantly reminiscent of a song Charlie Puth might release in the summertime. The song’s length and abrupt ending may even speak to the fleeting feeling you get when you think about the person you used to cry over. Perhaps the arrival of longing and the relief of no longer needing to.
Released on behalf of Capitol Records, the “Throwback Tears” comes as a first glance to their sophomore album Lost In Translation, slated for release this coming June 23rd. See album trailer here. If this single foreshadows the album, we are all in for a roller coaster of emotions.
I suggest we buckle up.