Style: Ambient, dreampunk, beats
Primary Emotions/Themes: Mystery, urban ambience, solitude, introspection, peace
Thoughts: Looking forward, the only thing visible is an abandoned walkway drenched in the cities shroud of night. A gentle rain has given everything a small sheen, a tender glimmer. Small reflections of the surrounding areas begin to appear as the rain's effect deepens.
Traversing the walkway, the sounds of the city begin to work their way into my subconscious mind. The distant sounds of cars driving on the water filled streets fill the silence. Rain continues to pour down and beings to partially obscure my vision. As time passes it becomes harder to truly tell what lies in the distance. Only upon closer inspection are the details revealed... the exact same feelings amass within me as I listen to the excellent Give it Some Time.
Dreampunk is a sub-genre of either ambient or vaporwave, depending on who you ask. It is generally considered to be an urban genre that focuses strongly on dreamlike soundscapes. The Microgram's take on the genre takes the soundscapes and adds a few beats, and sparse melodies. This is all wrapped up in the impenetrable fog that results in a wall of sound. The music is so incredibly thick that it is difficult to focus on any one aspect without the others quickly overwhelming the senses again.
Give it Some Time is more than just droning dreamscapes however. There is life interwoven into these songs. There is a spark found within the melodies and the ambience that gives the music that "it" factor that is lacking in so many recordings. The music shines as it progresses, it draws me in and begs me to stay.
The one sticking point I have with the album is the artwork. It looks like it is from the disco era, and does nothing to promote the music within. It's hardly representative of the excellent ambience that is in the grooves. For a genre where the visual aspect is often thought of as important as the audio components, this is a strong disconnect.
Cover aside Give it Some Time is one of the better entries into the dreampunk microgenre. It's concise, but packs every minute with as much impact as possible. I can't just spin this record one time when it hits the turntable. It's always 2-3 times before it goes back into the stacks. Every visit is a pleasant one, and every stay leaves fond memories.
Written August 21st 2023
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