Tropics’ Nocturnal Soul remains one of my favorite indie albums from that era, and it’s been incredible to watch his sound grow and transform on the path to his latest project, Reality Fever.
LA-based Tropics has become known for creating dreamy, often vocal-driven electronica with occasional nods to indie, ambient, and a host of other eclectic influences. The soft, punk-driven Reality Forever stands as his darkest and eeriest project to date, especially thanks to the cold soundscape we’re invited into.
The 10-track record feels like stepping into a slightly warped version of familiar territory. There are traces of 90s alternative rock, hazy indie electronica, new wave, post-punk, and the textural experimentation of acts like alternative's Radiohead, post-rock's Caspian, and electronica's Mount Kimbie. That being said, Tropics bends these influences into something far more personal. The guitars can be abrasive, the vocals deliberately rough around the edges, and the ambient layers constantly shift underneath it all, creating a sound that refuses to settle into one neat genre. And honestly, that unpredictability is where the record feels most at home. Reality Fever doesn’t need a label when its whole charm comes from existing somewhere in between.
It is the presence of the warm, emotive vocals, however, that tends to create a striking contrast that wholly immerses us in the experience. The pads lurking in the backdrop of "Cold Euphoria" produce a feeling of melancholy, and this is heightened by hazy vocals that are pitched up. This whole vibe is otherworldly and engrossing by virtue of the melodic tapestry, while the punchy, upbeat drums offer an energetic dynamic.
Stay up to date.
New music and exclusive updates in your inbox weekly.
