Loud Diamond

From the opening fade-in of candy-coated synth and breezy field recordings on "Day Off," to the triumphant, slow-dance departure of "Renewal," Boat Dreams is a sparkling oasis of guarded optimism, wide-eyed nostalgia, and sonic comfort. It pulls together dance-oriented electro-pop, the innocence of '90s IDM, the stripped-down elegance of '70s synth records, and the warm buzz of bedroom-recording techniques, with touches of gentle glockenspiel, spacious beats, and bubbling arpeggiators, for an ultimately familiar but ever-shifting musical journey.

Instrumental in its entirety, with the occasional cameo of cawing seagulls or celebratory human voices, the album uses a minimal palette - mostly keyboard and drum machine - to paint an emotionally complex portrait of perfect-weather days spent on or near the water, in simpler times, enjoying the slow roll of time while surrounded by loved ones. It is equal parts 16-bit video game soundtrack, zoned-out daydream at work, playlist for a scenic vacation, and clarion call to all who would embrace melody, color, and joy.

Boat Dreams is a manifestation of hope, a balm for the weary soul, a vision of what humans can be when we are at our best, and what we can accomplish with the tools we have at our disposal. Loud Diamond's dreams transcend the here and now, imagining a future that bypasses bleakness, while looking to the past for the magic and wistfulness that prevail in electronic pop's most memorable moments.
- Jon Rogers