Local Review: Indigo Waves — Indigo Waves

Indigo Waves
Indigo Waves

Self-Released
Street Date: 11.19
Indigo Waves = Pond + Naked Giants

At times poppy and polished, and other times, melancholic, Indigo Waves runs the gamut of saccharine, ’80s lo-fi nostalgia and dream pop. With catchy singles such as “Jerry Whiner” and “Can’t Let Go,” Indigo Waves reminds me of Wild Nothing but with a sound that lends itself to more rock rhythms. In between each upbeat single, richly sublime tracks serve as emotional palette cleansers, as in “Let Go,” a personal favorite of mine from the album that imparts a hopeful gloominess, and “Draynor Manor,” a synthy, instrumental track that encompasses the cassette-tape atmosphere of the entire album.

Vocalist/guitarist Austin Oestreich has a way of emotively charging his simplistic vocal melodies that makes the slightly distorted vocals pop against the instrumental background. For me, “Thanks” highlights the interplay between the somber lyrics, Oestreich’s charming vocals and the upbeat guitar and synth melodies well. The highly danceable track features a chorus of “Oh yeah you’re falling asleep / Oh yeah you’re caught in a dream.” Similarly, the second track, “Symbols,” boosts the album’s tone with an ethereal soundscape that breaks into an upbeat rhythm and equally optimistic vocals. The dichotomy between the nostalgic dreaminess and the catchy pop elements sets each track of Indigo Waves apart from the rest. Don’t be surprised if you catch an ear worm or two—these songs will get stuck in your head.

Indigo Waves’ brilliance lies in their ability to balance melodies and simple rhythms without anything feeling stagnant. The most impressive aspect of Indigo Waves is the versatility of each track and the cohesion of the entire unit. While each single is highly listenable, I think the album in its entirety, in order (yeah, I’m old school), tells a story worth getting lost in. –Ali Shimkus