ALBUM REVIEW: DEAN RED - ‘D-OUBLE’
The EP, ‘Double,’is the next in Dean Red’s ambitious five-part EP series. This four-cut offering speaks to his proclivity for carving out melodic instrumental space that leans toward synth-wave, synthpop, and chillwave—focused on elaborate chord arrangements and prominent melodies. Dean Red wants the listeners to go on a personal quest and make their own imagery and feeling based on the sound - there are no lyrics!
The EP opens with “Daisy Dance,” a song that throws listeners right into a retro-futuristic soundscape. The glorious layers of synthesizers and thumping basslines are a nod to the subgenre of synth-wave: electronic music from the late ’80s. Without lyrics to guide them, the audience has to imagine what comes next: in a neon-drenched city or maybe a digital wasteland.
Then, “Digital Dream” dives deeper into synthpop, with a danceable tempo and earworm-y hooks. The feel-good-meets-think-peace sound of its melodic architecture has that sweet spot of in-between, where the music makes you wanna move while also allowing for some breathing room. All together, the song is a masterclass in dynamic development — Red never sounded bored for a second while playing with multiple ideas and motifs musically.
The third track, “Dusk Matter,” explores chillwave terrain with a muted, multi-hued experience. Easygoing rhythms and ambient textures create a placid ground, inviting listeners to punctuate their thinking with sequences of falling into a more trancelike state. Its melodic lines are tender but bittersweet, in that place between longing and acceptance. With a rhythm change at the tail end of the track, the song further envelops the listener in bliss.
“The EP closes with “Day Walk,” a track that weaves together aspects from the three preceding it. Followed by jubilant chords and rhythmic precision that ended when it should; the listener satisfied, the end of the road only takes you to the beginning again, each round of freedom granted moreso than the last.
From start to finish on ‘D-ouble’, Dean Red displays an ear for detail. The production is slick and augmented, and every song is arranged with care to guide the listener across emotional and sonic terrain. His rarely accessible translation between styles never feels haphazard or disparate, a marker of his developing artistry and willingness to push creative limits.