In his debut record, There’s Nothing But Space, Man! Ryder amplifies his ever-upbeat persona to deliver more of the same. With his trademark falsetto, Ryder jolts happiness and resilience right into the hearts of those brave enough to take the shock.
His machine is large now, in terms of production, affording Ryder a higher voltage that he slowly cranks up in the opening track “Deep Blue Doubt.” A song that begins with a strolling piano progression soon jogs to electric guitar strums and quick drums to reach full-sprint anthem levels. From that moment on, Ryder uses his howls and growls to dissipate his doubts and yours. This uplifting theme continues with songs like “Tiny Riot,” a composition with choruses as charged as those of bands such as Imagine Dragons.
“Start a tiny riot / Stop being so goddamn quiet / Got a spark in your heart, so strike it,” Ryder sings with conviction, easily delivering a message of inner strength. This message lands, even in slower songs, like “All The Way Over,” which highlights the toughness it takes to accept pain. The song cascades with a sincere feeling and allows listeners to reflect on their losses with its mournful tone. This synergy between artist and fan is the talisman that catapulted Ryder to Eurovision fame and this subsequent record.
At this point in the album, Ryder looks on the bright side and uplifts others, with tracks like “Ten Tons” and “More,” which celebrate positivity and resilience with verses and refrains so soulful they’d be right at home in any congregation. Whether it is heartbreak songs like “Crashing Down” or dance tracks like “Living Without You,” Ryder’s pieces are optimistic at their core, driven by pop-infused production and the many experiences of a man on a fast trajectory to stardom for three years now.
In the standout track “SPACE MAN,” Ryder reflects on how far he has come as twinkling synths and explosive bass plucks help shoot his falsetto out of orbit. The song is an ode to humanity and the real world, things he understands well, and combines to write songs that, with sometimes too much pop pomp, hit deep and electrify.
