With the release of their short film The Runner, Boy Harsher has followed up by dropping the full soundtrack. The duo is known for their darkwave electro-pop; very reminiscent of the 80`s scene. I always imagined their music blaring through the speakers in a goth nightclub as I danced into the early hours of the morning but, the band decided to show off the darker ambiance of their music in a much different way… and it's absolutely brilliant. To quote the synopsis for the film, “The music scores the strange woman’s descent into the unknown.”
Track by track:
“Tower”:
The synth is deep and moody and lead singer Jae Matthews` voice fits right in. It`s sultry, dark, twisted, and mysterious. The stage has been set. The words: “Can I believe you? Do I even know how?”
are breathily sung right before the music becomes more intense and what sounds like screaming cuts through and fills your ears. It's strange and unexpected. Perfectly eerie.
“Give Me a Reason”:
With lyrics such as “When you come will you call my name?” and “Did you mean to touch me that way?” It's clear that this song is about carnal desire and lust. One of the most sensual tracks on this album. Jae Matthews stated, “With Give Me a Reason we wanted to write something that encapsulates that feeling of yearning - the way we feel when we catch eyes across the room.” Boy Harsher are masters at portraying the deeper darker side of such impulses in their music. I'm a sucker for it.
“Autonomy”:
We should all be pretty familiar with the word autonomy; the right to self-govern. You and only you have control over yourself. With that in mind, this song sounds like deciding to run away with someone out of fear. The decision to finally set yourself free, or to try at least.
“What do you see in me? What will come when we run?”
“The Ride Home”:
This track continues to add to the mystery that is this album while setting the scene perfectly in our heads. Mostly sinister sounding instrumentals accompanied by four lines of lyrics:
“Feels like I`m coming on
Real strong
You are the reason
I`m alone”
“Escape”:
We get shot straight back to the 80's with this staple dark wave track. Up beat and dancey with a sense of underlying dread. The lyrics, to me, speak of hopelessness and unsurity:
“We don't know what to do. The walls keep on caving in.” and “What's done is done.”
Planning an escape when you're so unsure of the outcome is scary, and that's exactly what this song conveys.
“Machina”:
This is definitely a bit of a contrasting sound for Boy Harsher. Leaning away from the macabre and embracing the fun pop side of this style. Aside from the chorus, the whole song is in singer Mariana Saldaña`s native language. Based on my loose translation she sings of having a cold heart, possibly comparing herself to a robot with no feelings. In the music video, which also appears in the short film, Mariana dons a full latex suit symbolizing power and authority. The main character of the short sits in front of an old tv and watches in awe; with blood all over her may I add. It seems to me like our main character is yearning for that type of strength, as she looks defeated in her own ventures.
“Untitled (piano)”:
Yet again another suspenseful track. It has a child's lullaby feel to it and mixed with the ambient noise gradually growing and shrinking in intensity, I`m immediately unsettled and captivated. Coming in at exactly two minutes and twenty two seconds, it feels much shorter and like there may be something left unsaid.
“I understand”:
The closing track is full of sorrow and loss. It feels almost like a poem being spoken to an intimate crowd:
“If you wanna break free
All you gotta do is tell me
And I will understand”
It's evident that this is coming from the heart of someone admitting defeat. Despite all the odds and all this person has been through with someone, they know it's time to let them go. The sadness in this song is unable to be overlooked. It's the perfect conclusion. Did you expect a happy ending?
In a recent instagram post they wrote how the short film started as a wild idea mid-isolation to pull themselves out of the ditch of depression. “I don't think we ever anticipated The Runner becoming a reality. Yet here we are.” They went on to say that nothing gives them a better sense of drive and purpose as Boy Harsher. That drive and purpose is apparent in everything they do. They seamlessly channel every bit of themselves into their work and it never fails to get your thoughts racing and your blood pumping. One of the many reasons you'll find yourself coming back for more.
The Runner short film is available on Shudder and Mandolin this whole month. Don`t miss it!