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"Desire outlives decay. You may feel like every step is just another action welcoming the unknown, and you may be right. But for right now, you are here, and the only way for you to leave the misfortune built around you is to do what seems impossible." The spoken word excerpt signals the genesis of ercidoa's long-awaited label debut, things with wings, as an intensive emotional effort just waiting to be unpacked.

Since his inception, the genre-defying singer, songwriter, and producer has readily reinvented himself, always existing seemingly one step ahead of the curve - from cementing his place at the forefront of digicore and hyperpop one moment to delivering an intoxicating experimental pop vision the next. And with things with wings, ericdoa takes flight, embarking on a 15-track epic that pairs his boundless genre-blurring appetite with dynamic, introspective songwriting.

Similar to ericdoa's standout Euphoria-backed "sad4whattt," "ocd" sees the artist wasting no time in conjuring up a wellspring of romantic ambiguity and confusion juxtaposed by an intoxicating sonic undercurrent that urges you to move. Meanwhile "victim" takes that penchant to heavenly new heights, as ericdoa delivers what is arguably his most radio-ready to contender date. And for anyone suffering an emotional hangover, "cheap liquor" is the cure for what ails you, opening on grunge-era instrumentation, which is quickly taken over by blown-out production that lays the foundation for a bout of heartbroken self-destruction.

"phases," with its city pop-evoking bassline laying the foundation for a nostalgic-laced dancefloor meditation, arrives as another standout on a project brimming with diverse standouts. And while it's all too easy to find the familiar comfort in ericdoa's dance-inducing numbers, he's at his most raw when he strips back the high-octane production to unveil his innermost self. The irresistible lull of "night that we danced" is one such confessional moment, seeing the young star reflect on a night he's unable to leave behind him.

things with wings is an album rife with catharsis, drawing everything and more from the full emotional spectrum - highs, lows, and all the uncertainty in between. And while it wouldn't be unsurprising for a project like this to culminate on a sonic victory lap of sorts, ericdoa instead closes with "commander dr - dear mama," a genuinely moving ode to the woman and found family who have not only shaped him but who continue to help him ascend to even greater heights.

Listen to things with wings below: