Oh those Golden Years when we used to chase bubbles... Brothertiger seeks to recapture the wonder and imagination of childhood. In the traditional childlike style of dreamy synthesizer pop music, Brothertiger's layered reverb vocals lift the listener into a comforting, warm state of mind. Innocence and carelessness are celebrated in the place of responsibility and maturity.
Brothertiger opts out of heavy sampling, creating most of the sounds himself using a computer program and a keyboard. This makes for a cohesive album, but lacks the interesting combinations and variations that proper sampling can provide. Brothertiger's sound is very dance-oriented with consistent thumping bass beats, and unobtrusive programmed drumming.
His electrolyzed vocals mesh with synthesized keyboards, as candy cane melodies are sprinkled with drones and effects. The opening vocals of Golden Years are like an approaching train horn dropping off the listener in a land of summer utopia. Brothertiger's use of retro synth sounds with modern production techniques creates a sound that is both familiar and relevant. The reverberated vocals are equidistant with the 1980s dance-pop music that inspires the sound.
The lyrical themes center around relationships and summertime. "You can dance the night away" verifies the dance-oriented nature of the album. His tribute to summer comes on "Summer House" with the sound of ocean waves and sandy synthesizer tones painting the scene. "I've Been Waiting" portrays indecision and anticipation, with some non-lyrical "dah dah"s filling in wasted time. The album's highlight is "Lovers" which has an instantly catchy melody and assuring vocals: "alright, alright."
Golden Years doesn't innovate new chillwave concepts, but it employs the style effectively. The melodies are catchy, and the sounds are well produced; for fans of chillwave it's a nice collection of songs. - The Wrenaissance |
