Horologica’s new EP I Want It More Than Anyone arrives as a study in controlled contrast: music that feels carefully engineered yet emotionally unguarded, where precision and instinct are treated less as opposites and more as two phases of the same system.
At its core, the record is built around a dual identity. By day, Horologica works in horology, an environment defined by microscopic accuracy and mechanical discipline. By night, that same mindset is redirected inward, used not to measure time but to translate emotional residue into songwriting. That framing matters, because the EP consistently feels like it’s trying to balance two impulses: the urge to refine and the urge to release.
Across the project, the sound palette stays relatively restrained but intentional. Clean melodies, harmony-led arrangements, and a vocal approach that prioritizes clarity give the EP a consistent spine. Even when the production expands, it rarely becomes cluttered; instead, layers feel stacked with purpose rather than excess.
The opening track, “Love Yourself”, sets the tone with an immediate sense of accessibility. It leans into commercial pop structure while maintaining a reflective emotional center, framing its message around care, encouragement, and relational awareness. It’s straightforward in a way that works in its favor though at points, its directness borders on familiar territory, relying on sentiment more than musical surprise.
“Feather”, the focus cut, is where the project’s identity sharpens. Built originally from a rapid 45-minute piano draft, it retains a sense of immediacy even as it expands into a more layered, cinematic pop structure. Synths and keys are used with a soft, almost tactile warmth, and the vocal interplay adds motion without overstating drama.
From there, the record begins to widen its palette. “Kiss Me” introduces a more hook-driven, high-energy pop sensibility, leaning into sticky melodic phrasing and brighter production choices. “Timezones” pushes in a different direction, introducing subtle experimental edges: processed vocals, slightly glitchy textures, and a rhythm section that hints at hip-hop and electronic influence. It’s here that Horologica’s range becomes most apparent, as the EP briefly loosens its structural rigidity. Rather than fully committing to experimentation, though, it keeps one foot in pop accessibility, which softens its risk-taking.
Later tracks like “Wii” return to brighter synth-pop territory, reinforcing the project’s melodic consistency but also highlighting a recurring tension: the EP is strongest when it leans into emotional nuance, and slightly less distinctive when it settles into familiar pop frameworks.
The closing acoustic version of “Love Yourself” is one of the most effective moments on the record. Stripped back to guitar and voice, the song’s lyrical intent lands with greater clarity and the performance feels more exposed. It reframes the track not as a polished pop statement, but as a personal reflection; arguably the version that best aligns with the EP’s stated emotional core.
