Extended Play 033: Wave Racer - To Stop From Falling Off The Earth
Australian producer Wave Racer has finally returned with his debut album, To Stop From Falling Off The Earth. Bursting onto the Electronic scene in 2013 with double header ‘Rock U Tonite’ and ‘Stoopid’, Wave Racer (aka Tom Purcell) quickly took off. Purcell was quickly signed to Future Classic, and toured his collection of originals and huge remixes for four years, before falling silent until 2019. It’s taken another two years for his debut album to hit our ears, but the result is well worth the wait.
Purcell first gave us a taste of To Stop From Falling Off The Earth with ‘AUTO’, a slower track than he’d previously released, but still full of the signature glitchiness Wave Racer became known for. It was a foray into something new instrumentally too, with much more organic feeling than previous releases. Guitars play a central role on ‘AUTO’, and the track was also a massive personal step for Purcell - it was one of the first times he used his own voice on a track, albeit heavily processed. These more human touches are what flow through to the rest of To Stop From Falling Off The Earth and make it Purcell’s most engaging work yet.
Highlights of the album include ‘Left Behind’, a more vulnerable vocal-driven track that pares back Purcell’s Hyperpop production to prioritise blistering guitar solos. It’s a twist on the traditional break up ballad, reflecting Purcell’s mission to pair stories of “overcoming anxiety, depression, and isolation” with his signature bright melodies. ‘Tell Me The News’ falls into a similar vein, and it’s where Purcell shines lyrically. The line “did you make a mistake on the internet/did your frenemies make you smoke cigarettes” is nothing short of iconic. ‘Just A Thought’ is the closest the album gets to Wave Racer releases of days past. Pitched up vocal samples and more key-driven instrumentals melt into drum clangs, as Purcell sings over the top. Unsurprisingly, Purcell had sketches of ‘Just A Thought’ floating around since 2016. The final result is a nice combination of Wave Racer eras that allows a sense of closure for the old chapter.
‘Look Up To Yourself’ is a sparkling self-help tune, transforming self-described “corny but helpful advice” into playful Pop. If there’s any track that encapsulates To Stop From Falling Off The Earth, it’s this one. Purcell has clearly faced tough times in the past few years, but he’s reemerged musically stronger and more polished than ever. To Stop From Falling Off The Earth is the start of a bright new direction for Wave Racer.