It is a big decision for any musician to completely change their sound. Here, Thief (aka PJ Wolf) is trying to craft his own destiny, swapping his old guitars for synthesisers and mastering his own minimalist electronic sound with this new EP Closer.
It seems that Thief has successfully transitioned to the electro pop genre with ease, especially with the help of renowned producer Matt Redlich. These four songs are all skillfully crafted and each one is distinct from the other.
The title track ‘Closer’ is heavily featured, with the fantastic original version spawning five groovy remixes. This track immediately sets the EP into motion with a lightning-quick intro and a sexy horn section playing underneath a sizzling chorus as Thief sings, “I’m too tired of watching you fuck me over” while dealing with a breakup.
‘Broken Boy’ is the perfect chill-out session song. Its minimalist and soft electro rhythms waft in the air while the musician deals with regret and pain. Following that, ‘Don’t Believe You’ features pulsing electro in the chorus and a cacophony of digital effects reminiscent of Pac Man.
Finally, ‘Cold’ swoons with a surprisingly faint electric guitar echo as he questions, “Why are you so cold?” The technique is utilised brilliantly to depict his pleas that are falling on deaf ears. Each remix contains individual tweaks of the originals without overproducing – adding to the overall impact of the collection.
Ultimately, Closer is a great debut EP for Thief. The artist has set the bar high for future releases as his undeniable talent shines in this creation of relaxed tunes. Keep it coming, Thief!
Listen to ‘Closer’ by Thief here:
