Yielding impeccably blended R&B and electronic music, his latest release ‘Cables’ (via Atlantic Imprint label EFFESS) is an infectious tune that couldn’t be more appropriate in the season and musical era we’re in now. Guard‘s ‘Cables’ is indeed a chill, electronic-accented summer-jam following current trends with skittering hi-hats and just the right amount of auto-tune in the vocals. This anti-technology anthem provides for an easy-going and appealing listen by playfully but inspiringly inviting us to play hide and seek in order to go back to the essence of what can set us free from cables and technology.

In the song’s opening lines, Guard denounces technology’s grip on our generation. More specifically, its destructive aspect in a relationship as he told Popcrush, “‘Cables’ is about connection and disconnection. It’s about a yearning for a relationship outside of technology.”

[su_quote]Now follow me like a recipe / No more talking through these fucking screens / Drinking tea while I’m blowing trees / Plant a seed, it could set us free / I’m saying, fuck this technology / Let’s play a game of hide and seek[/su_quote]

Technology is moving so fast with an exponential rate of innovation and its impact on our relationships and intimacy is simply inevitable by virtue of us being on our screens all day and what Guard sings about is an everyday struggle everyone has to deal with.

Guard‘s new single ‘Cables’ denounces technology’s grip on our generation.

Unsurprisingly produced by Terror Jr., Felix Snow‘s band, we can instantly recognise the L.A based producer’s trademark production as we hear the former’s familiar choppy-but-chill electronic production with Guard‘s vocals effortlessly sliding in through the bouncy percussion employed. Behind a lot of successful artists and jams in the past few years including Kiiara‘s ‘Gold‘, Felix Snow perpetually manages to make his collaborators sound good by combining contemporary, sunny productions and catchy hooks which from Felix and Joel is exactly what we’ve come to expect.

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Ironically, I urge you to turn your attention to Guard now and follow him on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

The first track of the album, “Little White Bars”, opens with eight seconds of a single synth playing a simple beat. This start establishes the concept and tone present for the entire release. It’s a simple yet full sound, easy to like but never boring. The pauses in the music contribute just as much (if not more) to the sound than the moments of noise. There’s a consistent class of synths throughout: the sound varies, but always stays within the same “family” of synthetics. This helps in building a continuity that stays strong throughout the album.

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Terror Jr‘s “Bop City” smartly contrasts heavy issues of today’s culture with light-hearted and simple yet full sounds.

The contrast between the light-hearted beats and the darkness of the lyrics gives the release a larger depth than much of the other recent music from this genre. The main vocalist (who’s definitely not Kylie Jenner) has an amazing vocal range, seemingly changing octaves without any trouble. Many of the tracks deal with issues that are relatable on a personal level. “Waiting to reciprocate but you never act,” speaks to everyone’s fear of putting themselves out there, a mutual fear of emotional over-exposure.

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The group also chooses to tackle issues that are highly prevalent in today’s culture. “Someone got shot on the TV, but it don’t feel like a movie,” addresses the glorification of gun violence so often witnessed from modern news outlets. It’s an admirable move, one I would like to see more rising stars make. I don’t think artists realize the opportunities they have to make serious change, to inspire those who listen into a better state of being. Positive music that criticizes our current system acts as a catalyst in societal change, and it’s nice to see Terror Jr come forward to prove a point.

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Terror Jr‘s “Bop City” is heating up this chilly October with great composure and strong lyrics. The mystery surrounding the group is appropriate given the Halloween season, and only seems to be helping their ratings. This is one album that is definitely spinning for Hipster Halloween.