Album Review: Oberhofer - Chronovision
By Van Williams, Contributor
[Glassnote; 2015]
Rating: 4/5
Key Tracks: “Together/Never,” “Sea of Dreams,” “Ballroom Floor”
From the moment Chronovision opens, it immediately pulls you in. With the opening harmony, you fall into a lush world of sound. It’s like being in a city in the evening that’s very brightly lit. If you look a little into how this record was made, this feeling is not surprising. Brad Oberhofer produced the record himself, using different studios all across the country.
After 116 demos, 12 songs made the cut. Chronovision wastes no time getting started with its instrumental title track. You drift into the record, and you don’t come back out until it’s over--and that’s okay. The album picks up speed with the post punk inspired “Nevena” and “Together/Never.” They’re glossy, they’re catchy and they feel like they don’t belong in this decade. Drenched in reverb and chorus they float around your head like a daydream that you don’t realize you’re having until it’s over.
In the middle of the record, when you think things can’t get much better, two of Chronovision’s strongest tracks play back to back. Track six is the piano heavy number “Sea Of Dreams”, which features someone whistling the melody, a gentle drum pattern, and a vocal that feels like a Sunday afternoon. “If the Earth should dry, may your dreams never die.”
Simple as it may seem, you believe Oberhofer, as he almost hums it over the mid-paced track. Musically, this is a step forward for the artist. Oberhofer has moved away from its fuzzy surf tones and ventured into a new land full of odd samples and lush textures.
