Niko Chan understands how to strike a balance. That much is clear on his recently released song R.A.N.G.E.R. The first twenty-five seconds of the instrumental are allowed to sweep over us, unaccompanied by vocals. When we finally hear his voice, it’s barely above a whisper. Steadily climbing in volume, his tone sets the song up to be a slow burner. It’s a bit of a surprise then, when the tension hits a peak and you’re hit with the second part of the song. From there Niko offers up what is essentially one hook after another.
The nearly seven minute song avoids classification from start to finish by trying its hand at a number of different styles. Handling the production as well, Niko Chan oversaw the progression of the track in every way. The sharp emotional turns are reflected both sonically and lyrically, fitting into the unorthodox structure. Even with so many moving parts, the song never trips over its own feet.
