Following their previous two singles “Automatic” and “Follow“, London based experimental electronic pop duo 0171 have dropped their latest warped offering in the form of single “Photograph”. The pair have been lauded for their innovative take on electro-pop, and their third single follows along in this trippy vein.

Steeped in dark synths yet naturalistic earthy chimes, “Photograph” traces a journey through the past in a paradoxically futuristic manner. The combination of Joe Bedell-Brill and Georgia Hoare’s succinct and perfectly sweet vocals, entwined throughout the throbbing synthesisers, creates a lush soundscape full of delicate textures.

Speaking of the inspiration behind the track, 0171 commented: “‘Photograph’ is inspired by looking at a photo of an ex. A photo that records a moment when everything seemed perfect, but now it’s a lie, and it makes you feel strange, like you can’t really remember who you were in that photo, when you loved that person. Like a life that never happened. We’ve all picked up old photos like that we find in our bedroom, that make you sit down and feel sad for a time that is lost, even if you don’t regret the relationship ending. I’m (Joe) definitely someone who spends a lot of time thinking about my past, and the feelings that I’ll never get back. Georgie’s there in this song to tell me to get over it ffs.”

In the accompanying video for “Photograph”, we see grainy and colour saturated photos of what we presume to be the band. At the bottom of each clip, there’s a sentence ruminating on how these pictures are tied up to various thoughts and feelings that 0171 possess.

The highly nostalgic and retro feel that stems from the photographs themselves is completed by a varying patchwork of colours and textures. The effect is pleasantly jarring to the viewer and helps to carefully tie together the conceptual narrative behind “Photograph”.

Following their critically acclaimed debut EP Red Light, the Hackney-based producer-singer duo 0171 have given us a taste of what to expect from their anticipated sophomore EP Change Nothing in new single “Follow”.

Comprised of Joe Bedell-Brill and Georgie Hoare, 0171 collaborate to create a sonic world that’s as experimental as it is thrilling. Their sound is one of catchy electronic pop with a more sinister side being explored simultaneously. Their latest single “Follow” continues in this vein.

Of the track and its inspiration, the duo spoke of the positive vibes that accompanied the classic 90’s pop that they grew up on and how they wanted to take this energy and morph it into something darker. “Songs like ‘Sex On The Beach’ or Vengaboys’ ‘We Like To Party’ come to mind; but we wanted to push those pop fantasies until they became sinister”.

On “Follow”, the buzzing synths that act as the anchor speak to this aim; there’s a Grimes-esque feeling to the track as it unleashes the same restless and ominous energy that tracks like “Genesis” and “Oblivion” possess. In the same way, “Follow” is inherently otherworldly, a kind of humming, dangerous track that throbs around the vocals duo’s vocals.

Adding percussion and keys to the chorus, however, makes it a near dance track, something that wouldn’t sound amiss in the midst of a nightclub. “Follow” is all about energy.

Commenting further on the track, 0171 said: “‘Follow’ is a fantasy. It’s all about a longing to just let go and believe that everything’s fine, everything’s perfect, even if you know it’s a lie. This is the fantasy world that pop music provides – a world where you really can just take someone’s hand and drive off into the sunset with the top down. We know it’s fake, but we might as well believe in it.”

Accompanying the track is a video made whilst in lockdown by good friends and collaborator to the band Jake Alden-Falconer. Made of stock footage, it tells the warped tale of a man who becomes so engrossed into the virtual world of the internet that he loses his sense of self as he’s so consumed by the idyllic lives of people that he sees online. Watch below.