The independent and intensely enigmatic electronica artist and producer, Virtues, waited until Halloween to make their debut with the two-track release, Impressionism, which kicks off with the ambient electronica twist on neo classical scores, Freaks.
By instilling a sense of artful opulence into a fusion of new wave synth pop and electronic funk, the artist composed a beguiling introduction to his hypnotically cathartic sonic signature. Keeping the beats raw while lavishing the production with shimmers of reverb and synthesised orchestral strings, Freaks unfolds as a cinematic release which merges the world of classic cinema, meditative ambience and expressive electronica textures for anyone who lives for those off-kilter, alternative soundscapes.
There is a quasi 8-bit feel threaded through the instrumental score, which only adds to the sense of escapism he instilled in the invitation to pause and explore a space where tension cascades away. The arrangement moves with a patient elegance, letting the harmonies glow and the atmospherics meander as they unfurl. For listeners who grew up gravitating to the weirder corners of electronic music, the track lands like a quiet little sanctuary, half dream sequence, half synth lullaby.
As first impressions go, Freaks shows Virtues stepping into the scene with a vision rooted in mood-driven storytelling rather than quick-fire hooks. There is a sense that he is less interested in chasing algorithms and more focused on building a sonic world that alternative heads will want to revisit when the real world feels a bit too sharp around the edges. If Impressionism is the opening statement, Freaks is the moment he lets you know he is here for the long haul.
Freaks is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Apple Music.
Review by Amelia Vandergast