The voice many listeners assumed was a woman's
For years, I was convinced the singer in Rhye was a woman. The voice seemed too soft and delicate to belong to a man. Eventually I looked behind the project and discovered Mike Milosh.
I was far from alone.
When Rhye emerged at the beginning of the previous decade, the project operated in near-anonymity. The earliest recordings made it difficult to establish who was singing. Combined with Milosh's remarkably subtle falsetto, the mystery led many listeners to assume a woman stood behind the microphone.
Rhye began as a duo between Canadian singer Milosh and Danish producer Robin Hannibal. From the start, the music relied on minimalism: slow tempos, abundant space and arrangements that breathe rather than try to impress.
The 2013 debut Woman quickly found an international audience. Tracks including Open became signatures of a style that was intimate, sensual and exceptionally economical.
Over time, Rhye became a more personal vehicle for Milosh. Later recordings place still greater emphasis on atmosphere and emotion than conventional pop structures.
The new track Close Your Mouth fits precisely inside that aesthetic. Production is calm and minimal. Milosh carries it almost in a whisper, while the music leaves generous room for silence.
Rhye has occupied a similar sonic world for years. Perhaps that is why the music continues to work.
It has never tried to become loud. Sounding close is enough.
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