Mike Hadreas has always had a gift for capturing the sound of escape. His early songs explore people who are running from something—abuse, stigma, addiction, themselves. But over the last two Perfume Genius albums, there’s been a gradual but powerful reclamation of self that culminates in “Slip Away,” the exquisite single from “No Shape”.
The title may suggest that this is another Perfume Genius song about flight—in some ways it is. Hadreas is breaking free from whatever demons are at his back. But this time, he’s not looking back over his shoulder—“If you never see them coming, then you never have to hide.” There’s a faith that everything will turn out alright if you have the right person by your side. Fittingly, the song is the most euphoric Perfume Genius has ever sounded. It’s a song that shows that running towards something is always better than running away.
