A new single as an album announcement. So far so familiar. So far so good. But will Spill Tab manage to convince me again this time? Will the new single Angie have secured a place in my digital music collection for the debut album of the same name? A sceptical look at a new release.
While writing these lines, I’m listening to Spill Tab’s extensive repertoire over and over again. The LA-based French-Korean singer has now released over 20 tracks. With 3 EPs in 5 years and numerous collaborations (including Metronomy), that’s impressive. Now the debut album is to follow on 16 May.
What do I expect
I’m often very picky when it comes to new music from favourite musicians and bands. In the north of Germany we call it krüsch and don’t just mean food. If I like something, I’m quickly disappointed if it doesn’t meet my expectations. Be it because the style has changed completely or because that’s not what happened. I’m always open to new developments and am curious to listen a second time in order to form a real opinion. It’s the same with Spill Tab. I became aware of the musician through the song Grade A. A song to jump around to. The EP Bonnie (2021) is one of the music releases I reach for when I want something a little crazier. A lot has happened since then and Spill Tab has crossed my path again and again. Most recently, I was able to experience them live at the Reeperbahn Festival 2023. The evolution from skate punk to an energetic indie sound was already evident here.
What we can expect
The further change could already be heard in the current releases of Pink Lemonade and De Guerre. With Angie, Spill Tab goes one step further. The result is a piece full of vintage synthesiser sounds. A piece that manages to bridge the gap to organic music despite its many technical effects. That’s how Spill Tab picks me up again this time. The single was co-produced with John Hill (FKA Twigs, Charli XCX) and Solomonophonic (SZA, Lola Young, Remi Wolf) and once again contains many subtleties to listen to.
The video also shows the musician’s artistic approach to visualising her music. The scenes filmed in the scrapyard – sometimes from the crane, sometimes from the ground – show the energy, the willingness to take risks and also the uncompromising way she communicates her feelings and thoughts. She already won me over with her crazy storytelling in Pink Lemonade.
Spill Tab going fast forward
Without having heard the upcoming album in its entirety and with only the three previous tracks in my ears, I’m still curious to see what’s coming. Will I secure a place in my virtual collection for the debut Angie by Claire Chicha, which is Spill Tab’s real name? I don’t know today. However, the single Angie will not make it into my Top Songs 2025. But as I’ve often found that I suddenly like an entire album after all, I’m eagerly awaiting 16 May. Until then, I’ll switch back to Anybody Else, Cotton Candy and Grade A. Uneasy with Metronomy is also on constant loop here. But maybe I’m just too picky at the moment. Or just crusty, as you like. It has to be sometimes. I don’t like everything.
Fotocredit by Neema Sadegh
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