There’s something quietly disarming about Mouth Water’s latest single ‘Smoke’ — like walking through fog and realising it’s not weather, it’s memory. Released on 4 April 2025 via Through the Void Records, the track is a spellbinding drift through synth-pop melancholy, delivered with hypnotic ease. It doesn’t demand your attention so much as it draws you in, orbiting with the quiet confidence of something meticulously crafted.
The Italian producer, known off-stage as Lawrence Fancelli, leans into nostalgia and subtle rebellion — not with bombast, but with restraint. ‘Smoke’ is a synth-drenched fever dream, draped in gossamer textures and slow-burning intent. Its shimmering layers glide over mid-tempo percussion, creating a steady pulse as each element slips in with quiet precision. There’s something filmic about its pacing — never rushed, never overstated. Like a memory unfolding, the track doesn’t clamour for attention; it lingers, haunting and deliberate.
Lyrically, ‘Smoke’ follows a woman in flight, carrying a suitcase that holds more than just belongings — it holds secrets, maybe even illusions. Is she hiding something? Escaping someone? “She might not be who she says she is,” Mouth Water hints as he croons — and the same could be said of the song itself, which flickers with subtle unpredictability. Lines like “Baby driving South, look out / you could be headed anywhere,” evoke just enough to stir the imagination. That’s part of the spell — it doesn’t guide you or veer into over-explanation. It leaves space to drift and feel.
Produced at OSB Studio in Tuscany and mastered at the iconic Abbey Road Studios, the track’s production bears the hallmarks of analogue finesse and digital clarity. Its strength lies not in maximalism but in restraint — each sound carefully placed to create depth without clutter. The retro ‘90s influence isn’t just stylistic; it’s embedded in the tonal palette, filtered through a lens of modern minimalism. Water’s engineering instincts shine as the mix feels spacious, the vocals hover just above the surface, and the synths seem to breathe rather than blast. It’s the kind of production that rewards repeat listens — not for what changes, but for what gradually reveals itself.
This isn’t new ground for Mouth Water, whose evolution from bassist to engineer to live performer has always straddled sonic worlds. ‘Smoke’ intensifies that trajectory, swapping dancefloor highs for quiet introspection. It doesn’t chase mainstream trends, but it floats on its own terms, inviting the listeners to meet it halfway. With a tour lined up with Sophie and the Giants and a full-length album due in 2025, Mouth Water is charting his path deliberately — calm, confident, and entirely his own.
Words by Khushboo Malhotra
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