The concept behind Formoe’s ‘Always’ EP is refreshingly simple: a single song, performed and recorded in a number of different ways, with each different version projecting its own shade of emotion. As the centrepiece of the EP, “Always” is a melodically rich, pop-inflected track with a synthpop flavour that opens into an expansive cinematic scope. June Baltzersen’s vocals are the most striking feature of the original version, carrying an intimacy and a strength in equal measure, like a loved one whispering “don’t worry” as the world falls apart. Alf Emil Eik and Roar Farstad’s production provides a solid foundation that burrows into the bones of the song and lifts it, widening the canvas on what might otherwise have been a conventional ballad, into a sweeping, rich piece of songwriting. “Always” has been popular among listeners and radio stations in Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, and the U.S., and the EP version gives a little more space to the emotion and a little more time to reflect.
The second track is the instrumental version of the song. Stripped of vocals, it becomes a piece that sounds more like the music in a movie, with its lush synths and the attention to production detail brought to the forefront. You’re not quite sure what emotion to attach to it as a listener, though. On one hand, there is a strong sense of longing or quiet resignation, but on the other there is a peaceful calm and a sense of hope or transcendence. It serves to show the strength of the arrangement as well, without the vocals this is a song that would stand on its own. It’s also an interesting look at how Formoe and their team think beyond simply radio play and the appeal of the album on first release.
Track three brings a choir to the instrumental, giving it a further boost, lifting the melody into a space almost spiritual. In contrast to the intimacy of the original, this version of the song seems to want to fill a cathedral, spreading out as it rises. There is an anthemic quality to this version, though not bombastic or overpowering, but solid, a strong and wide sound. The idea of creating three versions of a single song may sound simple, but it underlines the range of emotion that can be communicated by reimagining the sound and presentation of even a single song. It also hints at what is to come from the artist in the full debut album, ‘The Beginning of the End’, which is set to document the highs and lows of the rollercoaster of emotions we all feel when reflecting on our own life. For now, ‘Always’ is a demonstration of how much can be said with one song in a number of ways.
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