"Face Like Thunder" is a single by English indie pop act The Japanese House (Amber Bain) from her third EP Swim Against the Tide. "Face Like Thunder" was released on 26 September 2016.
| "Face Like Thunder" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by The Japanese House | ||||
| from the EP Swim Against the Tide | ||||
| Released | 26 September 2016 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:13 | |||
| Label | Dirty Hit | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Amber Bain | |||
| The Japanese House singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
editBain originally wrote "Face Like Thunder" years in advance of its release, before she released her debut EP Pools to Bathe In in 2015.[1] It was later included as the first single from Swim Against the Tide, Bain's third EP.[2] In an interview with Atwood Magazine, Bain stated that the song was "vaguely I guess, about a couple, maybe breaking up or maybe coming to the end of the relationship — maybe it's a couple or maybe it's two parts of the same person".[3]
The desert imagery of the song's music video was inspired by the song's themes of loneliness and endings.[3] When planning the music video for "Face Like Thunder", Bain, who is a lesbian, decided to cast a male as her romantic interest to avoid accusations that she was "[jumping] on the lesbian bandwagon".[4] She later described this as "stupid" and said that she no longer cared what people thought about her sexuality.[4]
Release
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Red Hawk Radio |    [5] |
"Face Like Thunder" was premiered on Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show on 26 September 2016 and was released the same day.[6] Bain released a music video for "Face Like Thunder" directed by Gareth Philips on 17 October 2016.[7]
Reception
edit"Face Like Thunder" was well received by critics,[2] with several making comparisons between Bain's vocals and those of Imogen Heap.[8][9][10] Consequence of Sound praised the song's use of cheerful pop sounds to mask emotionally heavy lyrics, and made positive comparisons to Future and Of Montreal.[11] In its review of the Swim Against the Tide EP, Read Dork called the single "arguably the perfect soundtrack to any late-summer drive, with the sort of hook that would bring Smash Hits back to life in a heartbeat".[12]
References
edit- ^ "The Japanese House on Harnessing Ambiguity and Recording Her Debut Album". Observer. 2017-02-28. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
- ^ a b Aikins, Gabriel (2016-09-27). "The Japanese House dazzles with new single, "Face Like Thunder"". Substream Magazine. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
- ^ a b "A Tidal Force: A Conversation with The Japanese House". Atwood Magazine. 2016-11-18. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
- ^ a b "The Japanese House interview: 'If people think I'm using my sexuality, then so be it. Let's f**king use it'". The Independent. 2019-03-02. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
- ^ "CALM AFTER THE STORM: THE JAPANESE HOUSE RELEASES SINGLE OFF NEW EP". Red Hawk Radio. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
- ^ Deborah (2016-09-27). "The Japanese House – Face Like Thunder". Indie is not a genre. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
- ^ Riddell, Rose (2016-10-18). "The Japanese House - 'Face Like Thunder' music video". Coup De Main Magazine. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
- ^ "The Japanese House share new song "Face Like Thunder"". Pass The Aux. 2016-09-27. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
- ^ "The Japanese House Channel Imogen Heap in Breathtaking New Video 'Face Like Thunder'". Baeble Music. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
- ^ "Hope SXSW has insurance, because The Japanese House conjured a storm – Austin Music Source". Retrieved 2020-01-21.
- ^ "The Japanese House returns with "Face Like Thunder" — listen". Consequence of Sound. 2016-09-29. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
- ^ "The Japanese House - Swim Against The Tide". Dork. Retrieved 2020-01-21.