After three EPs, we reach the end of Teen Daze’s Reality Refresh series; one last opportunity to hit refresh. With this last EP, we feel a sense of closure in every song, and a hopeful look into the uncertain future ahead of us.
So where do we find ourselves at the end of this journey? We start with Clear Path, with its dancing hand drums, sparkling synths and tasteful guitar lines, evoking the feeling of a quiet sunset from the sand. All things must pass.
Piano Exercise continues with the nocturnal feels. Though the sonic framework would suggest this might be a song intended for dancing, there’s a gentleness that makes its way through the arrangement. The filtered drums are pulsing, but with a softness; the piano played delicately, the sound of the pads hitting the strings still intact. Perfect for a sunset DJ set where actually watching the sun set is a higher priority than dancing.
Next we have one the more experimental pieces of the whole series: Amsterdam. Drums are replaced by common, almost mundane, sounds; the real world transformed into rhythms. Combined with deep, fuzzed out pads and a twinkling Rhodes lead, Amsterdam is an ode to a hazy night.
Finally, the sun begins to rise, and we’re left with the hopeful optimism that is built in to Oakmoss and Amber. A simple bass melody weaves the song through layers of soft guitars and brushed drums. A quiet, contemplative end to this collection of music, and an end to the Reality Refresh series.
This 6-track compilation features artists from around the world creating deep, expressive, and ultra-dancefloor-ready rhythms. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 16, 2024