Sitting somewhere between the complexities of shoegaze and the drifting soundscapes of dream pop, analog traditions and digital dexterity, indie guitars, and ethereal harmonies, Andrew Alarcon’s latest single, “Otherwise,” sure packs a lot in. And even with all of those elements vying for attention, the song is nothing if not dreamy, understated, and calming.
When you see anything tagged shoegaze, it is easy to imagine cascades of clashing and cavernous guitars and dense walls of sound, but this is not that. Similarly, the epithet dream pop might suggest something ambient and fragile, transient and lacking in substance. It is not that either. Not even close.
“Otherwise” is a song that manages to walk a deftly-footed, fine line perfectly between those two worlds, a blend of dream and drift but also melody and structure. And just as the song is a world unto itself, we lyrically find a deep personal dive at its heart. And whilst Andrew takes a closer, personal look within, explores his inner turmoil, and searches for clarity, we find that what he is presenting us with is the universally relatable idea of self-discovery and a quest for inner harmony.
It’s always great when the music and the subject match, when the spirit of the lyrics seems at one with the sonics that moves it along, and “Otherwise” is that perfect, complimentary blend at work one where, just as the lyrics speak in definitive language, the music adds equally emotive sonic sentiments.
Gorgeous stuff indeed.
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