Salt Review

Salt by LACES is an anthem about the toils of everyday modern life and how it wears you down, delivered with a positive, tongue-in-cheek way. The rhythm is executed with this snappy, clicky verve. It gives the track a tongue-in-cheek and dry delivery that leans further into the sense that the track doesn’t take itself too seriously.

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The guitar starts with muted strumming, slowly building to a more explosive, energetic chorus. The muted strumming helps to create tension, relating to this sense of being constrained by work. This melodic motif ties the narrative to the sonic elements in a way that makes the track as a whole feel very cohesive. The vocals are another strong suit, delivered with confidence and passion, the track comes to life through the vocal performance. You get a sense that the vocalist truly feels what she is singing. On top of excellent sonic execution, that honesty elevates the track to a different level. In the choruses, the vocals soar even higher. These moments show the singer’s significant versatility. Instead of subtly expressing the emotions of the track through rises and falls in her cadence, the bolder areas belt out the meaning of the lyrics, providing tonal diversity and increasing the richness of the sound overall. The video is also fun, following our protagonist through the painfully drab hallways and office rooms we’re all unfortunately familiar with. The camera tracks in and out, following her through room after room, almost as if she is being stalked as she sings by the ever-present stress or expectation of work. The protagonist reacts unbothered, dancing and moving through the hallways as if she exists away from the dull purgatory of work. This balance in the music video between serious and silly is reflected in the song itself, and the fine line the track walks on allows it to have a wholly unique tone that elevates it above the competition, delivering its message while also being a fun and energetic track to listen to at the same time.