Speech Act Theory is a project by New Zealand producer and musician Pete Hickman which allows him to explore his vulnerable side, putting his insecurities out there for all to see. Musically this brings together elements of Alternative, Shoegaze, Electronica and pop, with the focus on keyboards and vocals. The guitar and bass take some of the emphasis away from the long held down chords which are played on some very analogue sounding synths, and the feeling is very much of the late Eighties and early Nineties Bristol scene, with Massive Attack being an obvious point of reference. This is a very long way from the type of music I generally review, and I feel totally out of my depth, and can’t even work out if I like it or not and whether it is as good as I think it is, or whether that is my lack of knowledge coming to bear.

There are no details of who is involved, although there are both male and female vocals, and at least some of the drums sound real (although I could be wrong), and in this five-track EP, which is 22 minutes in length, we go through different styles so while some are danceable, others not so much. There is a fragility within the electronica, an openness as Pete bares his soul for all to see. Unlike many working in this genre, Pete does perform live, either as solo or with a full band although I have yet to come across him (I actually reviewed a single of his a few years ago). This is not my style of music at all, but those who enjoy this genre will find here is a new artist to discover.

Rating: 7/10

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/speechacttheory
https://www.aaarecords.com/