Noe Saenz - I've Got A Lover
An effective collage of pop music and rich production that seems made for chart success, with a lover’s story arc to tie it all together.
Score: 8/10
In a world that loves to turn singer-songwriters like Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars into pop stars, Noe Saenz is a name that should be up there, if he continues his momentum. He takes the same path as some of today’s chart toppers, from last year’s humble acoustic EP “Pint-Sized Songs of Love” to getting the full studio treatment of this album. However, it’s not the recording budget, but his knowledge of pop music’s intricacies that set him apart from most local artists.
Immediately from the start of the title track, we hear his soulful tenor vocals and effortless falsetto; In the hook he sings “I’d rather be with yoouUUU” with a slide note that is one of the most satisfying moments of the album. The funk bass line, tense guitar fills, erotic gloss, and Maroon 5’s appeal make this song a pop masterpiece.
The next track “Midas” takes a different path with 80’s new wave drums and electropop shine. The production matches the immaculate theme of the title and builds up and down with the precision of some of today’s big names like Jack Antonoff and John Hill.
“Empty Spaces” is a Mikky Ekko-like ballad that best shows Saenz’s vocal talent. The sentimental ambiance gives Saenz a stage to express remorse and questions a relationship with someone who may not be 100 percent committed, and wonders of he may be the selfish one after all. Either way, the song seems to pull from Coldplay’s album “Ghost Stories.” Just like that album, there is a thematic arc of a relationship, starting with the honeymoon phase, then exploring the downward feelings after sobering up.
The first half of this EP is about loving a woman who is irresistible, with lines like, “can’t seem to push you away/ feels like I’m fighting the Ocean,” and also, “your hands got superpowers/ worship your touch like Midas.” Next, Saenz uses a “If I had known. . .” template to add a sense of doubt, which leads to the closing track “At All” where he accepts whatever his lover can give.
It’s the darkest mood on the album, but also the lowest point due to a guest rap verse by 94’s Finest. The lines are not duds and the delivery is smooth, but it feels shoehorned in and doesn’t compliment the soft rhythms behind it. However, the tone, delicate electronics, and drum groove all make this a great closer.
In only 4 songs we get an adequate display of Noe Saenz’s range of pop influences and a relationship arc that adds cohesion to a group of diverse songs. The ambitious production and vocal strength make a duo that can stack up to the likes of Sam Smith, Charlie Puth, and Adam Levine. Imagine what a full album can do?
Listen to “I’ve Got A lover” here. Also available on all streaming platforms.