7inch Sunday is a segment devoted entirely to 7” vinyl and the all-encompassing experience surrounding it. Although most publications cover major releases, the vinyl single is often overlooked and given nothing more than a half-hearted nod of acknowledgement. This weekly feature is a hub for 7” reviews, exploring the B-sides and rarities of artists that may often go unnoticed.
Each Sunday I will review 7” vinyl from artists who venture this extra mile to hold their singles high above the sea of digital releases. I hope to embody the spirit of vinyl while sharing some fantastic music with you, the reader. Let’s get started.
A few weeks ago we checked out Saadi, a Syrian artist who carves her niche with broken rhythms and haunting melodies. “Snowyman” and its subsequent Delicate Steve remix introduced an artist versed strictly in pop, but infused with a dancehall twist. Moving deeper into Saadi’s catalogue, we’ll now look at a single released roughly a year and a half prior.
Clothesline is a record that interested me on contents alone. It’s not often we get to review singles with more than two tracks, but the briefness of “Clothesline” allows ample room on the A-side. Similar to Snowyman, the B-side totes a remix of the title track, utilizing the talent of the impossible-to-Google-search Lemonade.
Occasionally, artists have tracks fully indicative of their catalog, pinpointing all the admirable qualities and nuances. “Dodecahedron” is such a case for Saadi: the ideal first listen for those unfamiliar and, more importantly, a genuinely fun experience. The rhythm is excitable, but not spastic, the melody soaked with harmony and hovering slightly above multiple layers of synth-driven instrumentation.
Allowing “Clothesline” more sonic space than originally, the remix found on the B-side is the guidance needed for the track’s self-actualization. In what appears to be an attempt to fit a lot of ideas into a very short amount of time, the original song comes off as rushed. That being said, Lemonade stretches the track and leads Saadi’s concepts smoothly to a more cohesive fruition. The melody becomes clearly visible when taking turns with electro breakdowns, giving the song a second chance to boast its highlights.
While I would have been more interested to see the B-side house a remix of “Dodecahedron,” Lemonade’s remix ties the record together and shows “Clothesline”s full potential. Although an older release, Saadi’s Clothesline is just as fresh as ever and should receive as much attention as newer material.
Make sure to check back next week for a look at Candice Gordon’s Smoking Like the Barrel of a Gun.
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