It's that time of year again. As summer approaches, I find myself increasingly mesmerized by how unbelievably gorgeous the weather has been. The temperature peaks out an earnest 74°, the wind provides a nearly sensual breeze, and the irritating bugs remain hibernating. It's almost too perfect, but look away long enough, and the scorching hot, lazy summer days are just around the corner. Blue Hawaii's Blooming Summer perfectly captures my "weather-pessimism" while still assuring everything will be alright. It's both comforting and ambitious, wielding enough swagger but hesitating by shoving it under walls of reverb.
It's lead by Raph's vocals, better known for her work with the 2011 buzz band Braids. On a whole, Raph shines, delivering a consistently refreshing performance to the various beats thrown at you. On "Lilac", her charming falsetto channels Sigur Rós, while on "Dream Electrixa" the influence from Best Coast literally shouts at you. As I had just previously mentioned, Raph's vocals harmonize greatly with her percussive counterpart. The booming bass drum on "Katie" is met halfway by a twisted, casio keyboard head-fucked by nostalgia. The end result is notably dreamy, possibly an unintentional venture into the chillwave genre. Make no mistake though, this isn't fruity loops-core material; rather, Blue Hawaii is about as well-produced as you would want it to be, leaving enough room for expansion in the future.
My favorite song on the EP is the deceiving "Castle of Clouds". It begins a harmless drone, but a pumping synth bass at the song's midpoint reveals an understated dance track that never entirely breaks out. The production is key here; Raph's vocals are perfectly embedded in the mix, wavering in and out of the respective channels on a whim. There's no claps, snare hits, or even a bass drum for that matter; it's simply a transcendental walk on the beach that's inviting and full of surprises. Maybe that's what Blue Hawaii really wants to be known as: a one day trip to the beach that you will always try to recreate. We all have those memories, long lost but remembered for those few seconds of absolute peace. Moments like these make life frustrating, not because these memories are so unheard of, but because they're so hard to achieve.
4/5
Recommended Tracks: "Castle of Clouds", "Belize", "Lilac", "Dream Electrixa"
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