EP Review — JulianTheGirl & Dais dial up an experimental R&B confessional on New Project “Tales From The Modem”
A glitching neon diary cracked open at 3 a.m.—that’s what the EP project “Tales From The Modem” feels like, JulianTheGirl and Dais trading stories across fiber-optic nerves instead of notebook pages. The duo’s experimental R&B leans into distortion, latency, and emotional lag, turning the EP into a strange but human conversation between vulnerability and bravado. Indeed, the project functions less as a late-night browser tab of feelings: fun, cheeky, reflective, then suddenly boisterous.
First, “Aol” sets the frame with a French monologue on what a modem is, delivered in a warped, dark tone over a cinematic, suspenseful soundscape—half concept-art, half thriller opening credits. “tREMors” follows with haunted piano, off-kilter drums, and a dark-dreamy vocal blend; the risk is admirable, though its chaos occasionally threatens to eclipse the song’s emotional core. In fact, “Raindaince” is where everything snaps into focus: cello, bells, and R&B grooves cradle JulianTheGirl’s hypnotic delivery as she repeats “dancing through the pain,” turning survival into something defiantly graceful.
“alRIGht” pairs both artists over piano, synth, and hip-hop drums, evoking a world where Khalid and Willow Smith swap notes on growing pains—gentle yet potent. “Girl Math” pushes further: heavy bass, restless synths, and Dais’ agile rap flow collide with JulianTheGirl’s dreamy top line, creating a heady, futuristic pulse. However, “The Girls” stretches the experimental dial so far—low-pitched samples, chaotic structure—that it risks alienating casual listeners, even if Julian’s entrance somehow stitches the fragments together. Moreover, that slight excess is the EP’s only real limitation. The modem crackles, sometimes distorts, but the signal—two artists chasing an honest, weird, digital soul—comes through beautifully.
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