Review Summary: A personal vacation.
Summer is arguably the most cherished of the four seasons; public and post-secondary schools let out for much needed breaks, seasonal foods and beverages begin showing up at every party, and the weather is generally fantastic. Many people also view summer as the perfect opportunity to forget about all of the stresses from everyday living for a few weeks and head somewhere exotic, relaxing and worry-free. The excitement and anticipation that comes about before a memorable vacation is something that can make even the grouchiest middle-aged men and women revert back to feelings of youth and exuberance. Such emotions are difficult to put into words, but music can paint gorgeous pictures if expressed in certain ways. Roland and Daniel Voss, of the electronic duo
Weathertunes, managed to create the perfect soundtrack for two weeks of nothing but sand, bikinis and ice-cold Coronas. 2009’s
Palm Beach is an essential album for any vacation and a hidden gem in the world of electronic music.
The brothers Voss evoke feelings of euphoria and bliss through the use of simple but memorable beats and instrumentals.
Palm Fiction, the opening track, instantly generates feelings of walking down a busy beachside street on a humid summer afternoon. Samples of waves crashing on sand, seagulls flying through the sky and busy street traffic add to the authenticity of the experience. Funky bass lines and dancing acoustic sections are reminiscent of street performers jamming out under the hot sun. Bouncy synths and groovy drum beats help to keep the album moving smoothly, and there is nothing in the way of filler to disrupt the natural flow. This album’s greatest strength is its ability to paint very vivid landscapes using only melodies and the listener’s own imagination.
There aren’t many albums with the overall charm and positivity that radiates from each and every track on
Palm Beach. Hearing these songs after a hard day at work is almost like taking a personal vacation for just over an hour. The only problem I have with this album is when it abruptly ends and you suddenly remember that all of your problems haven’t actually disappeared. I suppose that speaks to the album’s sheer ability to entrance and envelop, and that is something that too many bands struggle with successfully producing.
