Teen Daze - Reality Refresh 2 EP (2020)

The second release in Teen Daze's "Reality Refresh" series continues down the path that the first one set up: meditative rhythms give way to soft grooves; field recordings and nature sounds blend into gentle melodies and textures.

Meditation, the first track, sets the tone perfectly, as its dancing percussion opens up into a vast, lush atmosphere, all tethered by a pulsing kick drum. Oskar's Groove is the groover (as the title might imply) of the bunch, nodding to boogie and mid-tempo disco sounds from the early 80s. Some people might describe it as "light & funky". New Destination proceeds down a more introspective path, again diving deep into hypnotic percussion and hand drums; a hazy, swelling whirlwind of synthesized and natural sounds. Finally, we reach Oskar's Lullaby, the come-down after the build up of New Destination, easing us out of this release with its gently picked guitars and looping drum machine. There's some serious emotion in this one; a beautiful send off.