Remember when pop had a groove? When it moved along on cool guitar licks and strutting bass lines. When it had something to say and a sonic purpose, Stefanos Barbalias certainly does. If you think that modern pop music seems to have been reduced to its lowest sonic common denominator, a digital beat, and vacuous lyrics, which it most definitely has, then “Out of Faith,” his latest single, will restore your faith in the pop form.
Seeped in soulful sonics and funky fun, it’s a song that is as infectious as it is welcome. Such influences turn what might have been merely a pop song into something so much more. It grooves, drives, lilts, and is forged from excellent instrumentation, not to mention Barbalia’s welcoming voice. It looks you in the eyes and insists that you boogie along, dance, throw a shape, cut a rug, do anything, anything but stand still.
I started by suggesting that such a song could be seen as the answer to pop music’s problems, an antidote to shake it out of its current state of lethargy. But, having played it a few times now, that isn’t the case, “Out of Faith” can’t be the savior of pop music; it’s far too good for that.
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