Browsing Tag

electronic dream pop

Dreams of Zephyrus synthesised the chill of disconnection with their alt indietronica release, Stone Cold

Posted on 13 January 2025

With their latest single, Stone Cold, the indie experimentalist Dreams of Zephyrus tore down genre confines until there was nothing left but rubble and an opportunity to explore a brand-new intersection of ethereal indietronica.

With wavy indie dream pop textures building around the vocal lines that reach out like a melancholic clarion call atop the saturated-in-effects polyphonic keys and interstellar motifs, Stone Cold is firmly rooted in Avant-Garde territory while simultaneously reaching out to listeners with the affecting songwriting and lyrical delivery style of Phoebe Bridgers and Angel Olsen.

The juxtaposition between the playfully warm instrumental layers, which seem to suspend you in the animation of the melodies, and the piercing ache of the harmonies reaches the epitome of haunting. Exploring the heart-wrenching experience of feeling someone withdraw affection and feeling the temperature drop, the single builds a sanctuary for anyone looking to steal back some affection into their soul.

Stone Cold was officially released on January 9th; stream the single on all major platforms, including YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

rp.scheno – Nothing’s Changed: A Sonic Odyssey of Ethereal Electronica

Posted on 21 December 2023

Few artists manage to captivate and intrigue as effectively as rp.scheno. His latest single, Nothing’s Changed, is a testament to his unique ability to blend soulful electronica into a dreamy, almost otherworldly soundscape. Born in New York and now based in Atlanta, GA, rp.scheno’s international background in language and history seeps into his music, creating a tapestry of sounds that are as globally conscious as they are innovative.

Nothing’s Changed is a masterful blend of deep bass and horn stabs that filter through the track, creating a rich, immersive experience. The song is built around glitchy motifs that add a futuristic edge, yet it remains grounded in authenticity. This balance is a hallmark of rp.scheno’s style is particularly evident in his debut EP, heatseeker.net, where he explores a myriad of electronic genres with distinctive flair.

What sets this track apart is the intoxicating juxtaposition of its elements. The ethereal soft colours worked into the production provide a stark contrast to the impassioned confessionalism within the lyricism. It’s a bold move that pays off, offering listeners a multi-layered auditory experience.

rp.scheno’s approach to music production is refreshingly unique. Eschewing traditional instruments and percussive elements, he opts for self-designed or newly warped sounds. This innovative spirit is palpable in Nothing’s Changed, where every beat and synth line feels meticulously crafted and purposeful.

With his unique blend of Y2K sounds, hyperpop beats, and digital spaciness, rp.scheno is not just an artist to watch; he’s a musical innovator leading the charge into a new era of electronica.

Nothing’s Changed hit the airwaves on November 30; stream it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Bang beckoned his audience into a celestial utopia with his authentically orchestrated release, My Heaven

Posted on 13 December 2023

The South Asian-American Michigan-hailing artist Bang gave his audience a slice of heaven with his latest release, which seamlessly weaves his diverse musical heritage into a genre-defying masterpiece. Bang’s upbringing, enriched by classic Bollywood melodies and the pulsating beats of early 2000s hip-hop and pop, shines through in this unique fusion of sounds.

My Heaven stands as a testament to Bang’s skill as a songwriter and producer, showcasing his ability to create an auditory experience that transcends conventional genres. The track is an alchemy of folk, electronica, and dream pop, culminating in a sonic representation of utopia. Its title is aptly chosen, as listeners are invited into a celestial soundscape that is both ethereal and profoundly grounding.

Bang’s orchestrations are characterised by a unique aura that swells with soul. The track is imbued with honeyed vocal harmonies, commanding yet consoling, with hushed, sweet, and subtle timbres that envelop the listener in a comforting embrace.

The true brilliance of My Heaven lies in its ability to be both an intimate reflection of Bang’s personal journey and a universal solace. It speaks to the power of music to bridge cultures, experiences, and emotions. Bang’s diverse influences are not just mere footnotes in his music. They are the heartbeat that gives life to his sound.

My Heaven was officially released on November 29. Stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Slender Dan orchestrated a superlative existential meditation with ‘Time is Running Out’

Posted on 2 March 2023

With vocals as ethereally magnetic as Cigarettes After Sex atop cinematically intricate Aphex Twin-ESQUE beats and apocalypse-centred lyricism, the latest single, Time is Running Out, by Slender Dan, is the ultimate existential meditation.

With chilling vocal samples alluding to how our child-like proclivities are the main reason behind our destructive tendencies that have led the earth to the point of collapse, there’s no exaggerating the sombreness of the dream-like Avant-Garde score. Yet, Slender Dan simultaneously succeeded in creating a tranquil feat of electronic ambience that will quell your end-of-days fears.

The striking mindfulness within the layers of lush reverb allows the tonally transcendent single to unravel as one of the superlative feats of post-modernism you could add to your playlists.

The Nashville-residing duo comprising Heather Dickinson (vox, keys, guitar, bass), and Patrick Ahern (drums, production, vox) debuted their first EP on KEXP in 2021 and has had its fair share of successes since. Time is Running Out is just one of the singles to feature on the forthcoming LP, GESTALT. In their own words, here is what it traverses:

“GESTALT is a 1 hour long, 19 track, avant-garde electronic album. With 13 songs and 6 interludes, Slender Dan presents a sobering critique of modern Orwellian forces- commenting on such topics as propaganda, censorship, the lack of consensus on truth, and the attempt to remain sane in the midst of insane times.”

Time is Running Out will officially release on March 2nd. Hear the official audio on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Float with the tropic flotsam in Agaaze’s open psychedelic love letter ‘Cinnamon Paradise’

Posted on 31 December 2022

Rochester, NY multi-instrumentalist, artist and producer, Agaaze reached the pinnacle of sonically sugared electronic dream pop with his latest single, Cinnamon Paradise.

With tropic pop textures adding temperate soul by the smorgasbord, the dreamy release envelopes you with the pure pining emotion which inspired the love letter to his crush. For six sweet minutes, the breakthrough artist takes you on a psychedelic trip through his innocent affection while the genre-fluid instrumentals break the monocultural mould.

Currently attending the University of Michigan, Agaaze built the foundations for his music career at age six while learning classical guitar. In the coming years, he experimented with jazz guitar, trumpet and South Indian Carnatic vocal lessons, winning classical and jazz guitar awards along the way, in addition to performing at the Rochester Jazz Festival and playing classical guitar on WXXI radio in 2019.

In 2020, Agaaze started to compose his own music, inspired by an eclectic array of artists, including Tame Impala, Tyler, the Creator and Pink Floyd. His debut EP, A Portal Inside, arrived in December 2021.

Cinnamon Paradise is now available to stream on Spotify, along with the sophomore single, For You, which dropped on December 30th.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

JRMR synthesised the ultimate ambient dream pop instrumental score with his latest single, wind dust.

Posted on 17 November 2022

‘wind dust.’ Is the latest stylishly synthetic single from the up-and-coming experimental music producer JRMR (Jon Munoz). The tranquil beguile of the ambiently dreamy textures allow you to key into transcendental Beach House-Esque tones for two short but sweet minutes as the shimmering reverb washes over you, bringing catharsis in every cinematic wave.

Since his 2019 debut, the Puerto Rican experimentalist has remained prolific by releasing a string of singles which set the anticipation for his first mixtape, death is an illusion that glows in the dark. With that titular nod to the philosophy of the enigmatic artist, you get a clue to the psyche from which his sonically spectacular singles were born. It is one that I, for one, can get on board with, and it seems I’m not alone in my penchant for JRMR’s experimental dream pop aesthetics. His most popular single, avarice. has clocked up over 17k streams on Spotify alone.

Head over to Spotify to add wind dust. to your playlists.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Middle Child & YHWHHH have released their semi-lucid lovesong, Meditate

Posted on 28 May 2022

If you are anything like me and you get the majority of your sanctity in aural form, the dreamy guitar-laden electronica single, Meditate, from the producer, Middle Child and guitarist, YHWHHH, will make for the perfect cosy and compassionate home.

With the vocals dripping with the Elliott Smith effect, the accordance of the choral reverb-swathed guitars, which will make any Slowdive fans’ hearts skip a beat, and the soft electronic layers, Meditate moves past catharsis instrumentally.

Lyrically, the single unfolds as a semi-lucid love song, full of proclamations of tenderly sincere affection which rival the sweet nothings that slip into lovers’ ears between consciousness and sleep. With millions of streams between them, something tells me that Middle Child & YHWHHH will be unstoppable from here on out.

Meditate is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast