Canadian duo Vague Notion release their new EP Glow, a project that takes the listener through shifting emotional landscapes and sparks a range of moods throughout. The release features six tracks, with vocals by Cheryl Janzen; however she co-produced most of the tracks alongside other half of duo multi-instrumentalist Bevan Early. Together, the pair continue to refine their collaborative dynamic, creating a cohesive body of work that reflects the strengths of both artists.
The project opens with ‘Visceral Reaction’ that starts off quiet but then gradually intensifies. It feels quite spacy but then moments of sharp, piercing energy. The synths grab your attention mirroring the repeated lyric of ‘visceral reaction going all around’, which reinforces a feeling of overwhelming physical and emotional response. Janzen’s vocals carry a subtle sense of distortion that feels deliberate, giving her voice a glitched quality. Rather withholding emotion, this deepens it, adding texture to a performance that feels both intimate and unsettled.
“We Made It So”, which is guitar-led by Early, takes on a more piercing, hard-hitting mood. The atmosphere feels more sharper and more immediate, driven by the guitar at the centre of the mix. Although Janzen’s vocals remain, there are times they sit beneath the instrumentation, giving the impression they’re being carried rather than leading the track. This push-and-pull gives the track a stronger pulse and sense of direction.
As the EP moves further along, there’s a clear contrast in mood and energy making it more dynamic. One is more upbeat, lifting the momentum with elements of funk adding depth. The other slows things down considerably, more intimate where Janzen’s vocals feel softer accompanied by minimal arrangement. Though the track’s instrumentation is stripped-back, the EP’s immersive atmosphere is present.
Before the EP comes to an end, Book Of Time, delivers a fuller, more bass-driven presence shaped by Early’s instrumentation. The track feels like an expansion of the earlier tracks, heavier in atmosphere while maintaining that sharp melodic edge. Janzen’s vocals take on a more experimental approach, less conventional singing, instead soundwaves. The placement of the track on the project reminds the listener of Glow’s core sonic identity and brings its central mood full circle.
Vague Notion closes off the EP with A Little Distraction, bringing the mood gently back down and allowing the listener to sit with what the instrumentation has been communicating throughout the project. It serves as a clear signal that the journey has reached its end, but in a way that feels natural rather than overwhelming. With Glow,the duo have crafted a collection of tracks that consistently transports the listener.
“GLOW, is Vague Notion at their most expansive and emotionally luminous, an EP that moves like shifting light through mountain air. It captures their signature blend of cinematic electronics and raw human expression, while pushing into a brighter, more forward-facing energy that feels both fearless and deeply alive,” shares music publicist Danielle Holian, Decent Music PR.
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