Youth Lagoon
Wondrous Bughouse
2 stars
Electronic pop
The story is nothing new: distraught young songwriter retreats to his bedroom to craft an album of introspective lo-fi pop that runs the gauntlet of what it means to be young, heartbroken and unsure of yourself.
Such is the tale of The Year of Hibernation, the debut release from Boise, Idaho’s Youth Lagoon, a tale that made the act’s mastermind Trevor Powers 2011’s indie wonder kid. But while that record separated itself from others employing a one-man-band approach with its grandiosity, Powers’ sophomore effort lacks the emotional weight that made its predecessor so beloved.
Wondrous Bughouse is a perplexing departure from the anthemic The Year of Hibernation. Recorded in a proper studio with producer Ben Allen, known for his work with Animal Collective, the album finds Powers relying less on dramatic crescendos and more on spaced-out synth arrangements.
Ghostly keys wander aimlessly through “Dropla” while Powers’ uninspired vocals feel thin in the mix. Gone is the washy reverb that echoed the catharsis in his wavering voice. As a result, Powers’ lyrics lack the candid sincerity that was essential to The Year of Hibernation’s success.
The trippy “Attic Doctor” and ambitious “Raspberry Cane” feel diluted and unrealized, as if Powers strived to designate them as stand out tracks, but lost his way through myriad keyboard samples and vocal effects.
Throughout Wondrous Bughouse, Powers seems to be intimidated by the prospect of recording in a professional studio. While the improved fidelity and incorporation of a live drummer add a welcomed texture to his music, Powers’ new batch of songs fails to replicate the heart-wrenching intensity of his debut. Just like its creator, Wondrous Bughouse is uncertain of its own emotional potential.
To get the day's news and headlines in your inbox each morning, sign up for our email newsletters.
