MUSIC REVIEW: Glass Animals “Dreamland” Album; Saturated In Nostalgia like retro-tech, VHS tapes, 90’s technologies, it’s all there.

Glass Animals is a band that I am so happy to have come across my radar!

Every so often you hear that track that instantly vibes with you from the jump. And then you want to take the time to find out who that artist is, what their story is, if they’re a new artist or do they have a back-catalog of music and just been flying under the/my radar, and what their albums sound like.

From first hearing the track “Heat Waves” with the drop-base kick-in to lace with the subtly hummed melody at the beginning of the track, I knew that this track vibes with me on that next-level type. Heat Waves has a windows-rolled down, cruising in the summer type vibe.

I wanted more. I went into full on research mode on them listening to their Spotify Channel with the tracks “Heat Waves”, “Gooey”, and “Tangerine” in heavy rotation. Their tracks are so good that I often can’t switch from a current track to one of those three, so that’s a good thing music-wise for me.

Their website is a well thought out design that fully taps into my tech side. It takes on a retro 90’s-style computer desktop screen and lets the user navigate throughout the virtual desktop like environment. It offers a plethora of amusement and easter eggs for fans. Seriously…Check it out.

The album Dreamland opens with the eponymous initial track “Dreamland” coming in whispery and seductively. Xylophones play as the track invokes, lulls, and even compels the listener to a slumberland playground. This track sets the stage for the auditory, dreamlike sequence that follows as the rest of the album. The band is unique in how their melodies and tunes build up and engulf the listener with infectious head-bopping ear-candy.

“Tangerine” is my jam!!! It comes in sounding VERY familiar to a track I haven’t yet been able to place yet. (Reminds me also of that 2000s rock track from this band I can’t name…)

“Hot Sugar” light, powdery-like flow. The chorus gives funky southern twang vibes that are reminiscent of OutKast and the ATL/South sound around during the turn of the millennium.

The album left me frequently checking the title of songs to mark for relistening. The track “Space Ghost Coast To Coast” was one of these, as was “Tokyo Drifting”.

“Melon and the Coconut” is a short lyrical track. They spit an enchanting flow (Is there a bass line on this track??) The flow punches a melodic beat that channels 2010s hip hop. Gave me references of Kanye West.

“Your Love (Deja Vu)” (written by Dave Bayley, produced by Dave Bayley and Paul Epworth) charges in with a beat reminiscent of a 1990s/2000s hip hop/club track. Fast paced, unapologetic, in-your-face, something almost exhilarating(??).

“Waterfalls Coming Out Your Mouth” (like “Pools/Drank” for a moment??) “Drip drab, gimme what you got…”

“It’s All So Incredibly Loud”—Moby?? This track takes us a step back as it comes in slow.

Interludes like “((home movie: rockets))” Home movie snippets provide brief interludes at various points of the album. I believe these are home recordings of the lead members youth, and adds further emphasis to the nostalgic vibe of the album

Nostalgia like retro-tech, VHS tapes, 90’s technologies, it’s all there.

The album artwork almost begs for comparison to Travis Scott’s Astroworld album experience.

“Domestic Bliss”…

The album has a fresh, infectious, bouncy, flow. The lyrics & flow are uniquely woven into the song with the other instruments (sounds).

The album paints a picture and creates an intense and vivid auditory experience. Great sensations. Good vibes & feelings, even the intense ones.

Saturated in nostalgia; The album is filmed the album is filled with audio references to sounds and tied to experiences you almost swore you would’ve believed before. The whole album is filled with experiences that you would’ve swore were from your own experience. Little audio cues and references pop nostalgia and sprinkle nostalgic here and there throughout the album. I found myself getting in captured in each song. Before I know it I found myself to stuck on the current track to even go back and listen to it.