After Dallon Weekes and Ryan Seaman’s I don’t know how but they found me (iDKHOW) released their debut EP 1981 Open Play back in 2018 we had a pretty clear idea of what to expect for their debut album Razzmatazz. We’re glad to see that we weren’t completely disappointed and even more pleased to see how their sound has risen to this new multi-layer waveformer without ever straying too much into the mix. territory of their respective old bands: Panic! At the disco and fall backwards.
In fact, iDKHOW is like a tribute to mid-2000s indie artists like The Killers, Franz Ferdinand and even Muse, while echoing David Bowie and Queen’s ’70s and 80s sentiments. .
Leave me alone makes a pretty perfect album opener; The 80s synths blend seamlessly into an upbeat disco beat, and it’s the perfect introduction to Dallon Weekes’ bubbly vocals, which will always be full of surprises as the album progresses.
Thrilling Crazy IQ maintain that dynamic energy before they draw a wonderful number named No one likes the opening band. We’re getting a really good Robbie Williams vibe with this piano-led baroque-pop digital vocals and lyrics, we’re happy to see a band that’s always having a good time.
From the gallows are several similar schmaltzy lounges, undercut by various surprises; it is occasionally reminiscent of Queen, with an inexplicably romantic lament from the Stephen Hawking voice middle and a saxophone solo to boot. There’s a lot going on here, but who are we to tell iDKHOW to shorten it a bit?
After a spike in hallucinations it was Clusterhug – a love song that is sometimes as sweet as a copy – a highlight of the album that really comes with the compilation Sugar pills. It’s a new wave anthem, sparking sex appeal and really shouting what iDKHOW is doing.
iDKHOW drops it down a notch for the rest of the album; There’s a bit of The Cure vibe on Good night kissuplifting synths sparkling on Light offand the quality of the lullaby Need you here.
However, after the brevity and melancholy DoorRazzmatazz ends on a strong note with the title track, Razzmatazz. It’s a bit of a rock with an aftertaste of everything else we’ve heard, and that’s probably the song that echoes Panic! At The Disco the most – that’s not what we’re looking for.
iDKHOW is flamboyantly unobtrusive throughout this compelling and utterly out-of-the-box release. Pleasantly jazzy and sometimes bizarre, it’s hard to start a band like this. But maybe now we don’t have to.
