Dreamwave

So I recently discovered this new underground electro movement which supposedly sprung up in the clubs of Los Angeles and has since been spreading like wildfire throughout the US and beyond. Well, it's finally reached us here at the tip of Africa, and it's awesome. They're calling it dreamwave, which pretty much says it all. Think wide, expansive synth chords, dancefloor-ready beats, grooving basslines, catchy-as-hell wavy synth hooks and the occasional reverb-soaked vocal in the mix. So basically every song off Daft Punk's Discovery, but a lot less French. These elements combine in myriad ways to create club-worthy bangers as well as spacey, beach-friendly tracks. I include an example of each for your enjoyment.

Gunstar - The Dream Machine
The Whitest Boy Alive - Golden Cage (Fred Falke Remix)

Let's begin with the Gunstar track, a dreamwave banger if ever there was one. The moment you hear that crunchy, distorted synth coming in, you know this is gonna get big. Then, just as you're getting into that, it falls away to make room for a gorgeous arpeggiated synth line that builds and builds until the two come together along with a powerful beat that absolutely commands you to get up and dance.


How sick is it when those strings come in? Gets me every time.

I especially dig the way this is put together. Really simple elements that combine in a very clever way to create a thoroughly enjoyable track. Mad respect.

On the other side of the coin, the Golden Cage remix is a great example of how diverse dreamwave can be. The Whitest Boy Alive is one of my favorite bands at the moment, so I was pretty interested when I came across this track. I'm happy to report that Fred Falke has done a fantastic job on this remix, keeping the laid-back, minimalist vibe of the original track and adding a great synth element to the mix along with a beat that puts me in mind of cruising down the beachfront with the top down, with a song like this playing for everyone to hear as you drive by. To top it off, singer/guitarist Erlend Øye's daydream vocals sound even better with a healthy dose of reverb laid on. This is one of those tracks that would work equally well in a beachfront club at sunset or in your bedroom at midnight. Very cool.

If you dig, head on over to Binary and check it out. Pretty much the dreamwave hub around these parts.