The ‘80s revival genres (as discussed before in our Lowlight 2 review) can be defined by their concern with celebrating the past. But that’s only half of the equation; the other half is defined by their concern with modernizing these sounds. Or rather, the way they get naturally modernized, and thus provided with a smooth, shiny coat of varnish. This happens naturally because these sounds are being recreated in modern machines, by people who were born surrounded by these sounds, plus a ton of others.
One aspect (often overlooked but very relevant) of the modern half of the equation, is the internet presence of the artists involved. Much like the artists themselves, these genres were born in the era of information. This means they can draw inspiration from the most unexpected of places. And not only that: this creates a musical cross-pollination of the most rich variety.
Which brings us to the album in question. Hailing from Iran, and drawing inspiration from italo disco, j-pop and eurobeat, comes Tame Werewolf with his sophomore album, Phasermania. He showcases his versatility by covering a wide range of genres, with some very interesting inbetweens. He covers an equally wide array of emotional passages too; From the peppy, almost smug “Time Machine Arcade” to the vaporwave moodiness in “Lover Ghost”, with some robust basslines and futuristic-sounding synths sprinkled generously throughout, Phasermania aims to have something everyone can enjoy.
Of particular note are the album’s eponymous track and “Lost in Lush Heavens”. It is in these two tracks where one can truly appreciate what the cross-pollination mentioned before can create. The former, for putting the listener in a state of enjoyable disorientation from the get-go. This is something few artists are truly comfortable doing, especially with more rhythmic songs. It’s reminiscent, in intention, of Sungazer’s “Drunk“. The latter for having a distinctly melancholic tint, while being as rhythmic as anything one could expect within synthwave or even future funk. Again, not something easily found; an assessment that very well fits the artist, in the best way possible.
Favorite Track: Phasermania
