Entry 341 - Crockett - City of Ghosts

 

Synthwave is a pretty rare occurrence to hit the turntable. Usually only a record or two a month end up on there and that's only if a very specific mood strikes. Tonight was one of those moods apparently.

Crockett play a chilled out version of synthwave that includes elements of lounge and ambient. Sound like a strange combination? Yeah, it kind of is, but it works in the context of the album.

The album has a solid basis of synthwave, specifically the 80's loving retrowave that got me into the genre in the first place. Where the project begins to differentiate itself though is how it uses those synthwave sounds to create more of an ambient atmosphere that sometimes reminds me of lounge music.

City of Ghosts is a relaxed take on synthwave that never has any sense of urgency to the music or introduces anything that would make the listener feel rushed. That combined with melodies that get stuck in your head for ages, the album hits all the right spots for me.

Each side of the record starts with its own ambient piece. From there the album takes the ambient atmosphere and overlays melodies, beats, and 80s inspired soundscapes. It reminds me why I got into the genre in the first place and lets me enjoy it without getting caught up in small things I find annoying about the genre. Crockett is synthwave at its finest.