Single Review: I Go Crazy

Investigator, the pseudonym of Auckland-based singer/songwriter/producer Adrian Drew, has just released I Go Crazy, a collaboration with ex-Fast Crew member Jerome Fortune. This newest single follows up last year’s EP, continuing to highlight an obvious love of retro-infused-rock-guitars, electronic-flourishes, deep-driving-bass, and big-dancey-old-school-hip-hop-inspired beats.

Sparking into life via a wonderfully restrained guitar that sets the tone, pace, and overall feel of the upcoming track, I Go Crazy is a fun, catchy, melodic slice of nostalgic pop-rock. Lyrics that yearn for lost love, pair effortlessly with a strong, emotive vocal performance that delivers the message with no excessive vibrato, or unnecessary vocal gymnastics. Investigator keep things relatively simple, which is a refreshing change from overly emotive vocals, and is exactly the right approach for this track in particular.

The production shines through, with a clear, nicely balanced mix and master providing space for the right instrument to take the forefront at the right time.

However, for some reason that I am struggling to accurately articulate, I Go Crazy feels like one of those remixes that used to come as a B-side with a single. From the dubesque opening to the track (i.e. the chorus vocal echoing through the intro), through the electronic-infused wonderfully weird bridge section, to the multi-chorus out, it all feels like the clever reworking of a more straight-forward pop/rock track. But, that is not to say that this isn’t a damn fine song, regardless!