ALBUM REVIEW: OUTERHOPE - VACATION
Outerhope is a dream pop duo from the Philippines. Formed around in the early 00’s, the brother-sister duo of Micaela and Michael have produced sparser sounds by performing guitar plucked boy/girl vocals and piano pop songs in their early releases like Strangely Paired in 2005, and A Day For the Absent in 2009. They’ve released an EP titled No End in Sight, a release that made them transition into an even softer sound within the realm of dream-pop, gaining more fanfare as international acts like Beach House, Wavves, and DIIV were on the radar at the time of their change of sound. Their own record label Number Line Records has also produced notable artists that still stand out in the local electronic/alternative scene such as Slow Hello, similarobjects, Tarsius, Some Gorgeous Accident, just to name a few.
Shortly after having their own record label, the duo went on a long hiatus. Outerhope’s followers have constantly been on the lookout for when the duo will coming back and they did, back in mid of 2016. They’ve released a wonderful single titled “Holiday”, a song that explores the meaning of death and what loss would sound like in the other side. After their short string of gigs, the duo went back in hibernation just to complete their most anticipated album. It was one rainy day in July that the duo have announced that they’ll be releasing their album titled “Vacation” released under the US-based record label Shelflife Records.
On their latest release, Outerhope had delved deeper in their dream-pop sound. A question that immediately came to my mind having learned of this info: can they follow up after more than half a decade of hiatus? Well, so far from what I have heard, they have seem to interjected the complexities of ambient music. Its bare bone emotion exists within the confinements of its spacey production. It may be too early to call it great as early in this review but I might be wrong when the regular listener may expect something more grand where in reality, it’s more of a sonic feast than it is an explosive effort.
Starting off the album is the first track “Travelling Time”, a slow introduction that incorporates flashy synths and Mica’s breathy voice and humming that echoes throughout the track. The second track “Holiday”, a New-Wave influenced head bopper that includes a catchy bridge and amazing production. The third track “Catapulco” is an instrumental track, it is wordless but it has a pattern. It’s textured but it isn’t filler. I usually get bored in electronic music that barely has any progress but this track in particular made me stay up to see what comes next.
“Out To Sea” and “The Seam Between” are similar in a way the narratives revolve around finding reason after a tragic event. There are instances that the music here is oftentimes a blanket for us to feel calm and safe but it’s the memories that keeps us distant from our own comfort zones. Just like the sixth track “Interlude” where the use of detuned chiptune like presets or the sound of strings you pick in a guitar, it’s uncomfortable to hear but at the same time there’s meaning to it. The next track “Airways” is another track that comes off as a new wave track being slowed down, I see nothing that much of a special turnout here but at least it’s still a treat to listen to. The 8th track “Bridges Street” is another instrumental track. What keeps me listening to one of these instrumentals is the way how they manage to manipulate every texture of sound there is; in this instance it wss the percussion compliments the synths. They still retain that Numberline Records mark that they’re known for in the past.
“Look Outside” is an ambitious last effort to seize the moment before everything all fades to synth dripping ambient music in the last two tracks, “Badlands” and “Boarding Area”. The last two tracks seem to be the polar opposites if you leave everything out but these two. The former sounding like a triumphant recovery while the latter sounds like a last goodbye. Both sustaining quality more than other of the competitor’s quantity of materials that are involved in producing music.
Overall, Outerhope evokes a strong feeling that only few dream pop/ambient acts can pull off. The album is minimal with overwhelming amounts of layers and man hours put into this project. “Vacation” is a solid comeback album that can stand the test of time for its sound, atmosphere, and themes that is similar to looking at a memorabilia of post cards that remind you of a past that you love remembering and you regret following.
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