Quiet Kids - EP review
It may be 10 years late to the chillwave party, but the full band experience and hi-fi production keep this EP afloat
Score: 6/10
A decade may not be a long enough time for a trend to become classic or born again. The summer of chillwave was back in 2009 and while the escapist themes and timbres have not warranted a revival movement yet, this EP keeps the dream alive by trading away some key tropes: a full band for a bedroom producer, the latest studio plug-ins rather than lo-fi fuzz, and darkness filling in for the innocence of the beach-themed tunes of the past.
The opening track, “white noise”, sets the album’s overarching tone with synths that could accompany a night ride through neon-lit streets. While the retro-futuristic aesthetic is drastically derivative, they do seem to execute it with self-awareness. “Drown you in this broken dream/fill your ears with the same sound,” Andy Peña sings somberly. The disappointment of a lost future is expressed more efficiently than many of the band’s contemporaries.
Thematically speaking, “Wake up” is the most pleasant with saxophones breezing by, soft vocals blurring over growing keyboard melodies, and lyrical imagery about reflection of memories and new beginnings.
The band hits their stride in “Tidal Wave” by deviating from the rest of the track list. A soundscape that is closer to Depeche Mode is formed while a bass guitar lead and firmly hit synth chords add much-needed tension in an album that hides from tonal dissonance. With the vocals being strong and clear, the song is also the band’s most accessible.
Unfortunately, there are not any other musical departures from there. While the production is affluent and the presentation is unwavering, it seems the songs get lost in a dream of their own, and just like dreams, they tend to be forgotten immediately after. The vocals are overlayered and hard to hear on most of the album and the instrumentation does not expand past the generic keyboards and electronic fluttering of the 80’s (and 2009). The beauty of modern convenient studio technology is utilized well, unfortunately, the band fails to use the wider range of sound that modern composers are gifted with today. Not even the sole instrumental track on the EP can shake the them out of their sonic comfort zone.
Overall, it is a decent listening experience while not moving past its own nostalgia and influences. The strong musical fundamentals and professional recording quality will continue to impress while Quiet Kids find an identity of their own.
Score: 6/10
Listen to Quiet Kids on Spotify here