New Frequency indicates that speakers are certainly a talented ensemble but it also highlights their weakness: their tendency to succumb to trendiness. In the strongest moments they end up coming off as a second-tier The Knux and in their weakest, a radio-rap knockoff. It wouldn’t be difficult to imagine speakers breaking out sometime soon, they’ve got all the key elements of a major label pop-rap act. There’s the thumping EDM-tinged beds of sound, dumb-catchy melodies, and an overt accessibility. There are moments in New Frequency‘s closing track, “Runnin’ It”, that do hint at a possible uniqueness that would be fascinating to see them exploit even further. All things considered, this is a decent introduction to speakers and worth at least a listen.