During my first listen of 925, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it was a debut. Sorry seems to have figured it out right off the bat, you won’t hear the stumbling of a rookie artist here. The London duo of Asha Lorenz and Louis O’Bryen managed to capture something unique out of a mix of genres. Jazz, pop, post-punk and electronic elements are fused together to forge a daring, seductive, and bold aural experience. The sound reminds me of urban nights spent in hazy nightclubs and casinos with old friends who just want to chill and mess around. We shot the shit and blew all our money in a weekend, but we had a lot of fun doing it. This album has equal parts sophistication and tongue-in-cheek humor that’s aptly encapsulated by a line in “Starstruck” : “I’m the apple of your rotten eye”.
925 is filled with themes of lust and dysfunctional relationships. The opening “Right Round The Clock” is a smooth jazz-pop number that details a crazy temptation for someone who is clearly unable to love you back. “Snakes” comes in with a slithering guitar riff and Lorenz’ vocals are pulled into its lower register. It’s sexy yet unnervingly dangerous: “I never thought about you in your underwear / Cause I didn’t wanna think what was under there.”
“In Unison” paints an unsettling atmosphere with its gloomy riffs and claustrophobic walls of synth. Going deep, it’s a call-to-action for anyone who dreams of achieving something for themselves. Lorenz sings with scalding urgency : “When will you get round to doing what you’re supposed to?”
Sorry blurs genre lines in “Wolf”, which feels more rock and electronic. Again we’re introduced to an attractive lover who is ready to sink their teeth into our necks at the slightest provocation. The duo accentuates the interplay of their vocals with wolf howls in the background. “Rock n’ Roll Star” brings it back to nightclub jazz, with an upright bass, smooth saxophone lines and sultry vocal delivery. It illustrates the absurdity of the rock star lifestyle and how the previous generation was so enamored by it: “You’ve got to dress for the part you want Not who you are”. “Heather” is a slower, pop-folk tune that brings out the duo’s sensitivity. I like how subtle and simple the instrumentation is in here. Plenty of elements are used, like the saxophone and synths, but they never drown each other. Each one is used to serve the song well.
925 doesn’t have a dull moment in it despite its 13 track listing. Sorry is so good at shape-shifting around with their sound that everything feels fresh. Despite its variety, it still feels cohesive. This is due to Lorenz’ velvety voice that guides the listener through the whole journey. Sorry is a band to look out for, and I can’t wait to hear more from them.