Conjuring a sound reminiscent of Wild Beasts in its haunting mixture of lush vocal-led intrigue and rock-laden emotion, headprint is the debut EP from Dutch act Endive. Co-produced by Oscar de Jong, the release immerses in its dynamic textures and fantastic vocals to craft immersive arrangements that shift intuitively between dream-pop, ambient pop, and melancholic art-rock.
Opening track “etretat” unfolds with gorgeous allure. Prancing piano lushness moves seamlessly into a jazzy rhythm section, with gentle percussive pitter-patter and warming bass complementing the rainy-day vibe. Warner Mossel’s stunning vocals ensue, achieving an airy sense of vulnerability in their spine-tingling tonal reach, resembling a lovely cross between Hayden Thorpe and Thom Yorke. The “where I fall” vocal refrain is especially riveting, bolstered by buzzing synth aspects amidst the trickling guitar atmospherics. The project’s knack for evolving, striking soundscapes and emotive vocal ascensions is on full display with this opener.
The ensuing “to unfold” compels as well in its stormy-night setting and tranquilly unveiling structure, uplifting past the first minute into moody guitar elements alongside the twinkling piano and heartfelt vocals. “I wonder if you feel safe and sound,” Mossel’s vocals let out with layered entrancement, guiding into a tender, wailing guitar dreaminess as the track concludes. Another enveloping sound emerges on “nightfall,” where delicate strings and glistening piano adorn moving contrasts — “pulling you close … pushing me away” — into a textured swell in the second half; a sense of deterioration is conveyed in the artful lyricism, with the magnetic vocal work matching its compelling emotion.
Perhaps the EP’s most expansive effort, “nothing left to say” invigorates in its tonal range, moving from fluttering piano and ghostly vocals into a heavier-rocking fervor, where resonating guitar distortion and howling vocal chilliness combine for a grippingly memorable soundscape. headprint is a gorgeous EP that emits ample, sincere emotion via its imprint-leaving atmospherics and recurring lyrical imagery.
