You Can Be My Wave

Oklou's debut album is a very understated electronic pop album. The soundscapes are quite wondrous, but there's also an intangible mystique to it. A lot of the focal instrumental elements appear from a distance thanks to layers of luscious delays and reverbs. It feels like we only get a glimpse into Oklou's majestic world through a tiny keyhole. Even percussion is rarely incorporated, and when we do get some semblance of a beat, it only provides gentle propulsion instead of head pounding kicks. It's refreshingly light on the senses, yet just as stimulating as a PC Music release.

There were three big highlights for me on this record. The first being obvious, a track I absolutely adore for its curious lead melodies and other-worldly ambiance. The following track, ict, also struck me with its captivating progression and bold instrumentation. The track has a lengthy intro that pairs regal trumpets and computerized vocal harmonies before growing into one of the album's most euphoric whirlwinds. I also really enjoyed the bladee-assisted cut take me by the hand. The timbre of that main melody is entrancing and there's cool little touches like the flamenco-styled acoustic guitar that appears towards the end of the bridge; both are really good examples of how good the production can get on this record. It's also the most straightforward and danceable track on the record; made all the more infectious thanks to a fantastic chorus.

There were only two tracks that I couldn't really get into. One was family and friends, which I don't think offers a whole lot beyond its cold, arctic nature. Surprisingly, the other one was harvest sky featuring underscores. It has a militant, eurodance vibe that is shrouded in the album's airy aesthetic. It's too reserved, not really able to make the full impact that was probably intended. While on the topic, the album's only other negative is how much effort is spent keeping you at arm's length. Some tracks are begging to be set free and answer a higher calling, however, they are often stifled expeditiously. The best example I can give is plague dogs, whose final thirty seconds promises brighter and more fruitful pastures before ending on a system error. All that aside, I was still very pleased with this record. I find the melodies to be very soothing and it's also really nice to find music that is so engaging without having to push boundaries in the areas of volume or intensity. This is an album I can see myself revisiting a bunch this year.