Ehson Hashemian is fast becoming one of pop/rock’s most prolific rising stars. His latest record, “Me Then You,” dropped at the end of October, its radiantly sunny sound ready to conjure summer moods throughout the darkest months.
With vocals merging the timeless influences of Morrissey, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, and The Cure’s Robert Smith, this record dances between post-punk and indie rock, its bright and upbeat riffs bringing mid-00s pop-rock aesthetics back into style, while dabbling in the darker sides of sound and human experience. It’s a classic rock band setup which never seems to fail.
Ehson, whom you may recall as being a co-songwriter behind Young The Giant’s hit, “Cough Syrup,” experiments with a multitude of moods and musical sensations; the dreamy psychedelia of “I Knew” verges upon being a Beatles-like ballad; “Just Want” conjures bright-skied serenity through its crisp tones and floating melodies; “Looking” softens its jagged beats and plucky riffs with ribbon-like vocal melodies that glide through the song’s ether; while album-closer and lead single “You Got It” lets its supercharged electronic groove bravely stray miles from the record’s overall sound.
Me Then You is, in fact, a concept album, tied together by a pure and powerful theme — in Ehson’s own words: “a longing for love and friendship, and the need to eliminate hatred in the world.”
Perhaps this central theme is what keeps Ehson song structures so satisfyingly repetitive. Each song introduces a strong yet simple harmonic idea that cycles until the track’s end, building impact through each layered revolution until absolute hypnosis sinks in. Restepping his own harmonic trails like this feels like a focused attempt to drown out the world’s bleakness with addictive, near-incessant themes of serenity, hope, and joy, manifested through Ehon’s invigorating, youthful soundscapes.
Big into Brit pop? This is the record for you. And thankfully, “Me Then You” is the latest in a rapid succession of albums released by Ehson – so if you’re a fan, you might not have to wait too long for the next album drop. For a bit of background: Ehson Hashemian launched his solo career in 2023 with debut record, “Animation,” followed by 2024’s “Face Shine,” and a staggering three full-length albums in 2025: “Bliss,” “Believe,” and his latest, “Me Then You.”
Our final verdict? Recommended.
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