In 2011, bedroom musician Trevor Powers released his first full-length album under the alias Youth Lagoon titled The Year of Hibernation, which showed that the realm of bedroom production did in fact have more to offer. The record was chalk-full of childhood nostalgia, simple arrangements and the sense of adolescence that usually comes from young, experimental producers. It offered a little extra as well, with infectious vocal melodies and a great range of tones (synths specifically). From such a great execution, it was raised a little higher than your typical bedroom-produced album and launched Powers onto the path he’s on today.
On Youth Lagoon’s sophomore LP, Wondrous Bughouse, he doesn’t simply explore the possibilities outside of a bedroom setup; he grasps the idea and uses it as the foundation of his new record. While The Year of Hibernation housed gentle bedroom-pop, Wondrous Bughouse expands Youth Lagoon’s pop-centered sound to include influence from psych, shoegaze, experimental and electronic. Also, a greater deal of organic instrumentation is present on the record, which is only to be expected from an artist expanding into a studio setting. Along with the instrumental changes, the songs are brighter and more playful, allowing Powers to appeal to fan bases that he didn’t reach with his debut.
In general, there is just a lot more going on in all of these songs. Whether it be an effect floating in the background or a shaker added to a drum beat, more layers present themselves in these songs. At times, like in the single “Mute” these sounds can add to the verses while at other moments it can act to cloud the mix, but not enough to take away from enjoyment. Toward the end of “Mute”, there are multiple melodies that you could listen to, but they’re all working together to bring the song to a grandiose conclusion. The percussion on this record is also a large change from Youth Lagoon’s previous release. Instead of using a drum machine to lay percussion in his songs, he uses live drums for the most part, as well as what sounds like any other percussion instruments he could get his hands on. The single “Attic Doctor” not only has a real drum recording playing throughout the song, but also a decent amount of wood blocks, claves and an even a triangle. Not every song is this busy percussively, tracks like “Pelican Man” and “Third Dystopia” feature beats that sound as if they may go through a drum machine.
With many of the songs off Youth Lagoon’s debut being based around piano, it’s interesting to note that piano plays a much smaller role on Wondrous Bughouse. Some songs like “Pelican Man” start with synth patterns, but display unique instrumental builds that go far beyond the first instrument. Many of the main melodies on Wondrous Bughouse are played on guitar, like the washy pattern that kicks off “The Bath” or the meandering groove that drives “Sleep Paralysis”. Though many of the melodies are on guitar, its often impossible to tell since each is layered with various effects that make the phrases sound less like an instrument and more like a Cicada buzzing by your head. These sounds make for a surreal and engaging listening experience.
Toward the end of Wondrous Bughouse is where the more sincere and engaging moments show themselves. Singles like “Third Dystopia” and “Raspberry Cane” are stripped down slow-burners that are reminiscent of Powers’ previous release. “Raspberry Cane” in particular features a build that would fit perfectly onto The Year of Hibernation, but is executed with real drums and much better production. While the mix of these soft ballads and louder pop-jams sound like a large contrast, they are all brought together through fun and playful melodies and Trevor Powers’ innocent but bright voice.
While Wondrous Bughouse houses many changes from Powers’ previous effort, it displays a similar youthfulness that is easy to connect with. Like the title suggests, the record sounds like an exploration through a new land full of new and mysterious creatures, with “Through Mind And Back” and “Dasiyphobia” acting as the entrance and exit tracks. Some of the tones used on this record are unlike anything I’ve ever heard, which goes to show that Youth Lagoon’s exploration through instrumentation has paid off. It’s a sonic adventure that doesn’t leave any area unexplored, making for one of the most unique listens of 2013.
Buy Wondrous Bughouse from Fat Possum Records