Inspired by Sun Yuan and Peng Yu’s 2016 art installation, Ash Halo released the melodic masterpiece “ Can’t Help Myself, “ titled after the famous art piece. The two producers, Sara and Dave, join forces as Ash Halo to create this contemporary electro-pop hit. The 2016 installation was showcased at the Guggenheim Museum during the exhibition Tales of Our Time, curated by Xiaoyu Weng and Hou Hanru, and later featured at the Venice Biennale in 2019 as part of the May You Live in Interesting Times exhibition in Venice, Italy.
The exhibit featured a giant robotic arm that could move in circles to sweep up red cellulose ether fluid leaking from its inner core and make dance-like movements in the process. Just as humans can become trapped in a loop of negativity, Ash Halo’s powerful new track demonstrates the resilience and perseverance to break free from these vices.
“Can’t Help Myself is a raw reflection on human instinct and futility…
“It’s for anyone who’s ever felt trapped in a loop—pushing forward, breaking down, and still refusing to stop.” – says Ash Halo.
Run the Track
The melodic piano intro and the back-and-forth vocals remind me of those timeless indie bands of the early 2000s. It’s a rather beautiful introduction to this bass-fueled enigma called “ Can’t Help Myself. The dual vocals sound like they could be off The Postal Service’s iconic album, Give Up, from 20 years prior. Dave’s cinematic style of electronic atmosphere, coupled with the thumping beat and snare claps, builds the track immaculately.
Exploding around the minute mark, Sara’s big, raspy basslines groove the listener along in this futuristic wonderland. The soft touch of metal-like sounds in the background, reminiscent of an early Skrillex album, fits perfectly with the robotic theme of this recording. I absolutely love the switching of the male and female sung verses; nothing gets me more excited than a dual vocal part. This small gesture provides a dynamic sound and really adds layers to the deep, heartfelt lyrics within this track
This bass-fueled journey about fighting the good fight, no matter how much we are stuck in a rut or want to give up, perfectly encapsulates Sun Yuan and Peng Yu’s wondrous art installation. Embodying themselves in this track and bringing that 2016 installation to life in music, Ash Halo’s “Can’t Help Myself ” catches the attention of the listener’s ear and heart in one encompassing swoop.
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