BRONSON - The Debut Album
The 3rd Act: ODESZA + GOLDEN FEATURES
Written by: Darcy Moore - Sense Music Media
Third times a charm. Hat trick. 3 beers deep. The moral of the story being that 3 is usually a pretty great number and the unexpected announcement of Bronson, the collaborative self-titled album from electronic trio BRONSON – the 2 guys behind ODESZA (USA) and the 1 man, GOLDEN FEATURES (AUS) – kept that rule afloat. Fans of the respective bands were stoked to hear that they had been in the studio cooking up a storm. A 3 course meal for the ears.
Pictured: ODESZA live at Coachella 2018
Photo by: Unknown
On reflection, it’s not a stretch to conceive the fellas coming together to release a collaborative LP. More of one of those “Oh, yeah no sh*t!” moments. GOLDEN FEATURES had already whipped up a remix of ODESZA’s Memories That You Call (A personal favourite which introduced me to the Washington Duo) and he’s released a single Wolfie on the ODESZA label Foreign Family Collective. So the stage was well and truly set for the ball to start rolling with the project.
The Review
The opening track, instrumental and aptly named Foundation, sets up a mystical tone for the record. I’ve already directed a film to the song in my head and I’d wage a bet that you’ll hear it in at least 7 indie film trailers. It sets a tone for the album’s arc that is deliciously balanced with the LP’s book-end Dawn. The pulsing and emotive track effortlessly bleeds into the 2nd track and the band’s first single Heart Attack Ft. LAU.RA, which is a clear-as-day ODESZA swing at the record. A soothing and catchy melody which is very appropriate to fully open the doors to the album.
This then slides into one of the trio’s first 180 turns – Bline – as it then continues like a sonic tennis match for the rest of the record. Not in a a tit-for-tat/switcheroo style; you can certainly identify the separate outfit’s distinctions, but with clear help and spin from their normally separated bandmates. Collaboration in it’s definition.
Pictured: GOLDEN FEATURES performing live
Photo by: Unknown
Now, I’m a sucker for a melody… Always have been – fight me! (please don’t). That being the case, songs like Know Me (ft. GALLANT) and Call Out suited my ears just fine; and I wouldn’t be surprised if they become new radio singles at sometime later. However if your jam is pulsing, dark, bass-heavy underground dance; you’re not left out of the mix here. Not even close. Substantial tunes like Contact and Vault pepper the album to make it accessible to anyone who likes the Indie-tronic music landscape that has really found a new millennial audience in the last decade.
Closing out the record is the aforementioned Dawn; and what a beauty. This is easily my favourite song on the LP. Being a photographer, I’m naturally a very visual person who loves a daydream. This song seems to fit perfectly as if I was riding a train through the city at night. The flickers of synth at a 120 beats-per-minute being mixed with a spacious melody seem to poetically soundtrack the experience of shutting ourselves inward, to stare out windows at passing city lights. The boys have certainly not taken the path of “let’s put the worst tracks at the back”. This track is a 7-minute, complimentary journey through the peaks and valleys of BRONSON’s clutching sound. Dawn swings between gripping drum patterns and airy soundscapes - as does the entire album - it’s an experience worth repeating.
Pictured: Bronson Album Cover
The Verdict
When restrictions are lifted and we’re allowed; grab yourself some mates, a few beers and watch the sunset with this in the background. Then head out and into the night.
7.5/10
Download
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