Six years after their debut, Canadian pop duo
Ash Koley return with
Elements, their sophomore LP for the Nettwerk label. The partnership of Winnipeg-based singer
Ash Koley and multi-instrumentalist
Phil Deschambault enjoyed their first bit of mainstream renown when their buoyant 2010 single, "Don't Let Your Feet Touch the Ground," reached number 50 on the Canadian Hot 100. The breezy, piano-led cabaret pop of their debut, Inventions, led to an even breezier 2012 companion album called Acoustic Inventions. With
Elements, they've made a deliberate attempt to to alter their creative formula, heading to Los Angeles for a series of co-writing sessions and some added production/songwriting efforts from
Justin Gray (
Ryan Cabrera,
Mariah Carey) and
Brian West (
Rachel Platten,
Maroon 5). While not a total makeover, the 11 tracks on
Elements represent a distinct shift toward more contemporary synth pop with a surprising dash of hip-hop thrown in. Beat-driven lead single "Dangerous Words" has hooks aplenty, as does the bouncy "Don't Give Up on Me," whose rousing choruses are interjected with semi-rapped call-and-response parts. They find their stride on the more straightforward synth pop tracks like "Every Time I Think of You" and the lovely "Dive In," which are two of
Elements' brightest spots. "Pins & Needles" is another standout cut showcasing
Ash Koley's knack for strong, uplifting choruses and bright melodies. ~ Timothy Monger