Ryan Ritual - “Not Dead” (ft. Ellysse Mason)

If the first single is any indication of what the rest of the album will behold, then it’s safe to say that UK-based Ryan Ritual has completely knocked it out of the park with “Not Dead.”

The lo-fi rhythm that jumpstarts this track is immediately ear-catching, then promptly loaded with layers of synth-driven ear candy that should satiate the thirst of many music lovers. Although this is not a style of music that we typically cover on the blog, there is no denying that something truly magical is occurring here. The wonderful talent of Ellysse Mason has been enlisted to deliver the first verse, setting a glorious, ethereal tone for this fabulous production. It was not long after she began singing that we knew we had to feature the song.

And if you’ve been paying any attention to our site, you’ll know that we simply cannot resist a good male + female duet, so when Ryan Ritual pours in a diaphanous layer of vocal harmonies, we are truly in an auricular heaven. This vocal performance is going to work its way beneath your skin and drive you back for multiple listens, especially once the hook sinks its claws into you. And while “Not Dead” resides quite firmly within the realm of alt pop, there is just enough dreaminess here to force you to stop what you’re doing and immediately take this one for spin.

The song is filled to its tippy top with dynamic meanderings, guaranteeing that all listeners remain engaged. Elements are added and removed from the arrangement, providing an undulance that effectively keeps the track interesting. Pressing play on “Not Dead” will result in immediately wanting to hear the rest of Ryan Ritual’s new record, The Weight of Love– lucky for you, it’s out today:

-HD