Youth Lagoon: The Year of Hibernation

On his debut album, this 22 year old former Boise St. student, Trevor Powers takes wonderfully tragic lyrics and wispy low key production and knocks it out of the park.

The album itself is pretty succinct with only 8 tracks maxing out at 5:20 in length. He leads off the album with the wistful “Afternoon” (my personal favorite) which leads into nearly cheery “Cannons.” From there Powers moves to “Daydream” then “The Hunt.” Now he gets into the crux of the album as “July” is one of the more enthralling songs which serves as the opening act to “Montana,” which will be the clear big song off of this strong debut. Letting off of the pedal a bit with “Posters” and then brings it home with the slow ballad “Seventeen.”

Powers, the one man band known as Youth Lagoon, has a standout record on his hands. From the opening track, "Afternoon," his complex yet subtle and simple production does a terrific job of pulling the listener into the album and never letting them go. The fuzz-filled tracks complement his vocal styling perfectly creating a mood that puts you to sleep in the sense that the rhythms are soft and the melodies are comforting. The lullaby-like rhythm and sleepy tempo of “Afternoon” matches fittingly with Powers' lyrics and equally sleepy voice. The low drum machine patterns overlaid with the gauzy keyboard and guitar sounds creates an ambiance within the music throughout the whole album that is on the cusp of being chilling yet remains somewhat upbeat. Usually he accomplishes this by building up the energy to an almost orchestral overture as the song begins on the downside of the halfway point and eventually leads right into the next composition.

Throughout most of the album his lyrics, while generally inaudible even after multiple listens, are tragically true and honest. Deriving the subject matter from his life experiences, Powers' lyrics are only enhanced thematically by the delivery of them. His drowned out, gain laden vocal tracks add to the effect of, and meaning behind, the words that go unheard. He recognizes that he is still a kid and is aware of his limits in knowledge of life. However, what he has experienced, mainly heartbreak and questions, he is more than happy to elaborate upon. In the album's clear stand out track, “Montana,” Powers exclaims “A door is always open if it isn't closed and a plant is said to be dead if it doesn't grow; I'll grow.. I will grow.”

This is an album filled with paradox and contradiction. The juxtaposition of complex and minimal, sleepy and exciting, tragic and hopeful works to create of sense of inclusiveness. While not a perfect album, one thing is very clear Youth Lagoon is a project filled with potential and promise.

8.5 out of 10

-Michi Oshima