EP REVIEW: “Alphabet Archive” by Urge Surfer

I went completely blind into this review of Urge Surfer and their genre of music. ‘Alphabet Archive’ is the band’s first EP since their 2022 album ‘Reach’. This band definitely has a unique sound that sets them apart. ‘Alphabet Archive’ contains five songs, each with a strong electronic element. 

The first song is called Glass Ceilings, and I think this has to be my favorites on the EP. It has an almost eerie sound. The theme of this song is growing up and maturing in terms of personal beliefs. Just like the name suggests, there are a lot of connections that could be made to the glass ceilings metaphor.

The second track is Ozone. This song starts with what I can only describe as feeling like your head is under water, slowly fading into clarity as the lyrics begin. The spoken lyrics in this song are a nice touch. It’s a change compared to other songs being released. This song deals with the idea of “breaking free.” Towards the end, the singer questions if breaking free is even worth it. I enjoyed how the instrumentals started to fade back out to that feeling of being underwater at the end. 

The third track is called Leaf Cutter. This song is the most electric-sounding on the EP. Something I appreciate about this song is the repetition of specific lyrics, “Further, faster, fuller, forever.” Those lyrics could represent a need to keep going to find oneself. 

The fourth track is called Suspender. This would have to be my second favorite song on the EP. This song starts with a darker instrumental sound. The overall theme of this song is not being over someone, which could be romantic or platonic. This song genuinely describes the pursuit of a person you are not over. If you have any pent-up anger towards someone, this is a perfect song to channel that resentment. 

Lastly, we close this EP out with Fight Nightmares. This track brings back the spoken lyrics that we heard in the second track. This song is all about the idea of losing a friendship because of something hurtful. I love the lyrics in this song, which are full of metaphors like “You had moved on to a sweeter laugh, a twinkling much brighter than mine.” I took that to mean the artist had moved on to a new friend that on the outside seems sweet and kind. Of course, this could be the opposite of how the singer perceives it. 

I would highly recommend listening to this EP! Make sure to check out Urge Surfer’s music and social media.