Warm Ghost - Narrows (2011)

A great bit of swooning, 80s-leaning, downtempo synth pop from the chillwave era. Hadn't listened to this for years until this morning, and it holds up really, really well. For me, these throwback sounds are always so much better when they're incorporated into new-sounding music, instead of the full-on nostalgia cosplay that's taken over, pretty much across the board, in recent years. I blame Stranger Things.

Track listing:

1. G.T.W.S.

2. I Will Return

3. Once One

4. Myths on Rotting Ships

5. PLY7

6. Inside and Out

7. Mariana

8. Splay of Road

9. An Absolute Light

You can pull the wool over a lion's eyes but it sees

Through a leak in the strands and a parting in the swaying grass

Same year, same wheelhouse:

Processory - Change Is Gradual (2011)

Tropics - Parodia Flare (2011)

Pure Bathing Culture - Moon Tides (2013)

Well, the heatwave continues here in Portland, OR, which means that I'm probably going to the river again. Sometimes, life is a pretty sweet fruit. And for the ride there, it's gonna be Portland's own Pure Bathing Culture. It's not just the name -- although that can't hurt -- it's the shimmering guitars, the gently propulsive rhythms, the synth washes, vocalist Sarah Versprille's angelic but distinct delivery, and the overall laid-back, nature-friendly vibes that all seem to say, "Go, get a nice buzz going and take a dip."

Track listing:
1. Pendulum
2. Dream the Dare
3. Evergreener
4. Twins
5. Only Lonely Lovers
6. Scotty
7. Seven 2 One
8. Golden Girl
9. Temples of the Moon

You will become

Tropics - Parodia Flare (2011)

Easily one of my favorite albums to emerge from the golden age of blissful, hazy electropop. Swirling layers of warm keyboards, loops, chiming guitars, and sleepy, stoned vocals. Sounds like a couple of painkillers and a plush comforter.

Track listing:
1. Navajo
2. Mouves
3. Parodia Flare
4. Going Back
5. Wear Out
6. Celebrate
7. Figures
8. Telassar
9. Playgrounds
10. After Visiting
11. Sapphire
12. On the Move

We always used to