Royal & The Serpent
Rat Trap IV
The fourth instalment of THE RAT TRAP is a guitar and vocal selection with minimal additions. This three-song lineup is sub-titled The Burden. Royal & The Serpent have created an interesting pathway through the different sounds, with the lyrics being a unifying force.
The songs focus on different perspectives of relationships, with thematic videos that all start from a similar perspective.
U Ruined Frank Ocean 4 Me
The first track, ‘U Ruined Frank Ocean 4 Me’, is a song about how a break-up can ruin the music that had been adding its soundtrack to the relationship. It uses a warm clean electric guitar with just a subtle foot-tap beat to create a sad mood. The angelic vocal arrangement after the chorus gives it a little lift, returning to add richness to the second verse, becoming almost haunting by the reprise.
I’ve been sleeping in your boxers and watching trash TV
Even convincing myself that Santa Fe’s not far away from me
I’ve been thinking about you and how it couldn’t be
I can’t handle one more melody
You ruined Frank Ocean for me
Watch Royal & The Serpent – ‘U Ruined Frank Ocean 4 Me’.
Separation Anxiety
The acoustic beginnings of ‘Separation Anxiety’ are round and soft, the song offering an apology for the behaviour manifested through insecurity. Though the song offers apologies for all the awful things that are done during anxious moments, you can’t help but feel an undertone of trauma bonding.
I’m sorry. I’m trying, I’m trying to love you
Forgive me. I’m trying, I’m trying to love you
How many chances do I get?
How come you haven’t left me yet?
I wonder why
I get this feeling in my chest
When I’m alone I must confess
I’m terrified
Musically, the stripped-down first verse with a vocal EQ’d to hint at a telephone conversation grows into a chorus with delicate harmonies and the beginnings of some rich strings. It all falls away for the second verse, only to come back stronger for the following chorus.
Watch Royal & The Serpent – ‘Separation Anxiety’.
Oops
The bright alt-pop of ‘Oops’ is the toffee coating on a smart slice of storytelling, an accidental relationship that needs to be crushed before someone’s feelings get hurt… easier said than done. It’s playful with the theme, starting with some sexting and escalating while the undertone quickly emerges to throw water on the prospects.
Musically, the piano adds a neat motif as well as gentle strokes to the chorus. The song uses rhythm to keep things bright and the short two-minute length will leave you wanting more.
Watch Royal & The Serpent – ‘Oops’.
The Rat Trap
You can catch the other instalments of The Rat Trap in our articles: Part I The Blueprint and Part II The Burn, and Part III The Band Aid.
Written by Fenton on
