Nick Hinman’s London-based project, Fast Money Music, continues to build momentum with its second EP, ‘Rouge’. Emerging from nine months of gradual single releases, ‘Rouge’ arrives to high anticipation, and surely cements Hinman as a rising talent in the Indie Pop scene.
Despite only releasing his debut single in 2022, Hinman has managed to attract some impressive collaborators for this EP; contributions from The 1975’s George Daniel and John Waugh, alongside mastering by Matt Colton (notable for his work with Arctic Monkeys and The Rolling Stones) signal a sense of ambition and serious creative intent behind his most recent project.
Recorded at Palace Garden Studios in London, the EP opens with ‘Hot Melt Glue’, a dazzling fusion of both futuristic and retro influences. With an infectious guitar hook and four-on-the-floor drive, the track builds layers of nuanced strings, synth and percussion for an intricate and bouncing groove. Coupled with the velvety sax of John Waugh of The 1975, the tune is equal parts The Smiths and The Strokes as Hinman treats us to an energising blend of Indie and Pop.
The following track, ‘Space Opera’, was co-written by Tony Hoffer (famed for his work with Beck and The Kooks) and features a funky synth bass-line and George Daniel’s punchy drums, with the result being an energising piece that captures the listener with its intricate production and poignant themes of both longing and rivalry. There’s a great duality to the track, as there is the entire EP: it feels simultaneously modern and steeped in the nostalgic atmospheres of 1980s New Wave and Indie.
You can tell Hinman grew up in San Francisco with the sunny optimism of ‘Hunky Dory’, the title likely a nod to Bowie’s iconic album of the same name. The track effortlessly recalls the Jangle Jop bands of the 80s with its infectious guitar hooks that drive the melody forward, whilst the layered instrumentation - again featuring John's opulent saxophone - gives it a richness that makes repeated listens rewarding. The song’s lighthearted refrain, “everything is (probably) going to be alright (forever)”, imbues it with a cheerful optimism that contrasts its complex arrangement.
The icing on the cake is ‘Polar Bear’, which feels like the thematic centrepiece of ‘Rouge’, tying together its sonic exploration with a meditative reflection on love and loss. The track closes the curtains on Fast Money Music’s second chapter, with its gradual build of layers creating an atmospheric crescendo that brings the EP to a thoughtful and immersive close.
In just five songs, ‘Rouge’ elevates Fast Money Music from promising newcomer to a cemented creative force, hinting at a brilliant musical future on the horizon.
Words by Donovan Livesey
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