Swim Against the Tide

Swim Against the Tide is the third extended play by the English indie pop act The Japanese House, released on 11 November 2016 through Dirty Hit. The EP's first two songs — "Swim Against the Tide" and "Face Like Thunder" — were released as singles before the EP's release. The EP peaked at number 12 on Billboard's Heatseekers album.

Swim Against the Tide
EP by
The Japanese House
Released11 November 2016 (2016-11-11)
Genre
Length15:04
LabelDirty Hit
Producer
The Japanese House chronology
Clean
(2015)		 Swim Against the Tide
(2016)		 Saw You in a Dream
(2017)

Background

The EP's lead single "Face Like Thunder" was written before the release of The Japanese House's debut album Pools to Bathe In, and was adapted for inclusion in Swim Against the Tide.[1] Bain has stated that the inspiration for EP's final track, titled "Leon", came from the 1994 French film Léon: The Professional, and is based on the perspective of Matilda, a character from the film, after she had grown up.[2][3]

Promotion

The EP's first single, "Face Like Thunder", was released the day after its premiere on Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show as the EP's lead single. "Swim Against the Tide", the EP's title track, was released as a single on 24 October 2016.[4] "Good Side In", the final single from Swim Against the Tide was released on 31 October 2016 and premiered on Zane Lowe's "World Record" on Beats 1.[5] The full EP was released on 11 November 2016.[6]

Musical style

The EP has been described as experimental pop,[7] dream pop,[8] techpop, electro, and '80s pop.[9] The EP featured Bain's distinctive use of overlapping harmonies and synths, and some tracks featured experimentation with instruments such as steelpans.[10]

Reception

DIY gave the EP a positive review, awarding it 5 out of 5 stars, and stating that the lead single "Face Like Thunder" was "Amber [Bain]’s most chart-ready pop hook to date".[11] Atwood Magazine noted that it was lighter and more upbeat than her previous releases but "just as introspective and raw as her previous two EPs".[12] "Face Like Thunder", the EP's lead single, was the most commercially successful track from the EP and had steady airplay on BBC Radio 1.[13]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
DIY[14]
The Outline[15]
The Skinny[16]
Dork[17]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Swim Against the Tide"3:41
2."Face Like Thunder"3:58
3."Good Side In"3:49
4."Leon"3:45
Total length:15:18
Chart (2019) Peak
position
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[18] 12

References
  1. "The Japanese House on Harnessing Ambiguity and Recording Her Debut Album". Observer. 28 February 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  2. "The Japanese House unveils the panoramic-sized 'Leon'". Dork. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  3. "The Japanese House on Harnessing Ambiguity and Recording Her Debut Album". Observer. 28 February 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  4. "The Japanese House Unveils New Track "Swim Against the Tide"". Soundfiction. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  5. Subscribe (31 October 2016). "The Japanese House shares 'Good Side In' from her new EP". diymag.com. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  6. "The Japanese House share second single from upcoming EP 'Swim Against The Tide'". Let It Happen. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  7. "EP Review: The Japanese House - Swim Against The Tide". IndieCentralMusic. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  8. "Review: The Japanese House – Swim Against The Tide EP". The Edge. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  9. "The Japanese House: Swim Against the Tide review - The Skinny". www.theskinny.co.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  10. "EP: The Japanese House - Swim Against The Tide". Gigslutz. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  11. Subscribe (11 November 2016). "The Japanese House - Swim Against the Tide". diymag.com. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  12. "A Tidal Force: A Conversation with The Japanese House". Atwood Magazine. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  13. Convey, Madison (15 November 2016). "EP: The Japanese House - Swim Against The Tide". On Record Magazine. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  14. Connick, Tom (11 November 2016). "The Japanese House - Swim Against the Tide - Review". DIY. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  15. Alice. "The Japanese House - Swim Against The Tide EP". The Outline. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  16. "The Japanese House: Swim Against the Tide review - the Skinny". The Skinny. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  17. "The Japanese House - Swim Against the Tide | Dork". Dork. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  18. "The Japanese House Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
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