__LOPEZ_ - Motion One

__LOPEZ_

Motion One
Lopez Wreckords; 2015

3.7 out of 5

By Stephen Jordan

__Lopez_ is the alias of Fresno-based musician Robert Stephen Lopez. His most recent work can be described as artificial and organic sound in an indie pop dream, and it is pretty noticeable right off the bat with his EP Motion One. "Falling From the Sky" begins with a blend of synthesizers and an acoustic guitar; it will sound a bit strange to fresh ears but with enough listens it becomes a bit addicting.

At its core the song is inspirational and essentially about taking a chance and diving into new territory. He sings "Follow your dreams Follow your heart Flow like a wave Falling from the sky It’s never too late to fool the world Flow like a wave falling from the sky."

"Sail Away" follows suit, encompassing a indie-pop sound, with the production really tapping into layers of synth work. The synths are warm and playful but also emotionally resonant. It's all actually subtly complex and deeply hypnotizing. In addition, the way in which Lopez’s vocals are mixed complement the production.  His lyrics here ambitious and slightly cynical as he sings "Coco Cabana and the fiery lights now, take me away to the other side Hug and kiss my loved ones goodbye now, I may never see them alive."

Then __Lopez_ does something completely out of left field with "That's My Rock 'N' Roll" by it being pretty much a punk rock song, which I was all for and totally loved. It's certainly unorthodox to the flow of this project, but it stands out and gave him credit for taking a chance. 

And with the final track "Circuitry" we take a step back into the electronic/synth dimension; this time with some added effects that really work. There seems to be a wall of static that the vocals are coming through and with the loops in the background the song becomes memorable. This is definitely an artist who I am going to keep on my radar for whatever he chooses to do next. 

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