SOTD #190 // Beat Connection: 'Silver Screen (Dreamtrak Diamond Sound)'

Wait, what’s this? More mystical dream pop made by a couple of mysterious American dudes? Isn’t it 2011 already? Haven’t we had enough soft focus synthesizer meandering to last us until the next sub-genre explosion comes along and bites us on the ass? Apparently not.

Although, who am I kidding? I lap it up like an attention starved cocker spaniel. However, I’m probably being a little unfair on Beat Connection; lumping them in with the whole “chillwave” thing is a bit of a misconception. Yes, there may be a likeness to the titans of *chill* Memory Tapes or Millionyoung on ‘Theme From Yours Truly’ but all in all the debut EP Surf Noir (out via Moshi Moshi imprint Tender Age in April) boasts a more muscular sound that you’d expect from a genre filled with weed smoking high-school dropouts. Whilst ‘In The Water’ echoes the balearic chimes of Delorean or more interestingly (to me anyway) The Tough Alliance, todays Song Of The Day ‘Silver Screen’ is a tour de force of progressive rhythms and sweet melodies all wrapped up in a tidy four and a half minutes. It doesn’t really go anywhere; just meanders and floats about, steadily stealing your senses with its effortless charm and grace.

But wait, what’s this? Dreamtrak (the official King Of Dalston™) has come along with his box of big ass Diamond Sound and stolen the show. Again. If anyone knows how to tap into a songs inner psyche and pull out something oh so fresh and fine it’s Dreamtrak. Featured previously amongst these pages as SOTD #101 with a show stopping remix of Bodebrixen, Oli Horton is fast becoming the go-to-guy for pulse inducing edits. Taking the progressiveness of the original and turning the tempo down a touch you’re momentarily transported to some place far more tropical than your current surroundings (unless you’re reading this in the Maldives or Fiji). The rush of 1990s keys colliding with the frolicking flute loop some 1:15 in to the track is something to behold. The only downside? There’s a slight hint of Sting in the vocal. Just sayin’.