With their third release, The False Alarms, L.A. electro-pop concept group Fol Chen delivers a sound that is decidedly less concept and more pop than both of their previous albums. In conjunction with their evolving sound, the once-anonymous members of this collective are no longer (literally and figuratively) hiding behind masks and pseudonyms. This newly unveiled version of Fol Chen also features vocals from the group’s keyboardist Sinosa Loa, who weaves her voice in and out of the multi-layered beats.
The False Alarms‘ inaugural single, “200 Words,” is six-plus minutes of otherworldly sounds that give off an esoteric, post-apocalyptic feel. The track begins ominously, creeping through your eardrums with crescendos and decrescendos befitting of a horror flick. With a transition that is equal parts unexpected and smooth, the tune takes on an upbeat tempo and bass-heavy sound. As soon as Loa begins chanting lyrics in her fascinating and trancelike voice, you’re sure to be hooked on the haunting-yet-catchy tune. Ultimately, it seems Fol Chen’s “200 Words” can be summed up in six: ghostlike, dark, and yet strangely seductive.