Debut an emotional outlet

By: Carlos Sucre-Parra/Columnist

Photo courtesy of Facebook

“When I was 17 my mother said to me/ don’t start imagining the day that you do, is the day that you die.” These lyrics encapsulate the raw beauty and power of “The Year of Hibernation,” Trevor Power’s debut album, under the moniker, “Youth Lagoon.”

This  album is laden with massive dreamscapes and lo-fi, catchy songs that often feel like a private look into the artist’s life, fears, shortcomings and hang-ups presented in eerie, almost drowned out vocals. The album’s fantastic craftsmanship is what ultimately defines “The Year of Hibernation” as one of the best albums of the year due to its amazing attention to detail, tightly wound melodies and extremely catchy beats.

Trevor Power’s project, “Youth Lagoon,” is the result of his effort to cope with anxiety, feeling a certain disconnect from the outside world and not being able to relate to others. He decided to work on himself to provide the basis for his lyrics. Many of the songs reflect his problems growing up, allowing a very private look into his life and a deeper connection with the audience, which is mostly comprised of his contemporaries who get lost in the rhythms of his compositions. The beginning track, “Posters,” details his internal conflict and the pains of growing up while finding his true identity through the use of a very simple melody, which builds up a simple riff backed up by a drum machine that drills into the listener’s memory and creates a certain element of hope – a cheerful closing for an otherwise worrisome, relatable situation.

Therein lays the heart of the record – a young adult feeling trapped as he pours out his feelings into his art. There are meticulously catchy pieces of pop music that actively demand to be blasted out of your stereo.

The record, a bedroom project later recorded at a friend’s home studio, demonstrates the absence of expensive mastering in its sound and places heavy layers of fuzz in such a charmingly well-arranged manner that it invites the listener to raise the volume rather than avoid distortion.

“Afternoon” presents a great synth pop melody shrouded by an adventure story; the beats are reminiscent of “The Postal Service” and “The Shins.” It is an inviting composition that draws a wistful landscape with aerial, chillwave undertones.

While the record teeters on the dream pop genre, the intimate nature of the songwriting, along with accessibility of the melodies, allows it to transcend the label. “17” battles Power’s relationship with his mother and indicating her lack of support for him; it also hints at an alternate story, where he gives in to her wishes and conforms to her norms, leading to a more “acceptable,” yet unfulfilling, life. His mind is often reproaching his decisions (“Now I pull a wanton carriage/ instead of horses, grazing along”).

Other tracks, such as “Daydream” and “Montana,” relate to his fantasies and draw upon his personal relationships to create a narrative for his songs. Powers masterfully creates a seamless juxtaposition of reality and fantasy as he allows the soft tones of the distant piano playfully react to the synths to create a powerful crescendo.

The background melody grows stronger, overpowers the vocals, creates a haze and a dreamlike state of euphoria for both listener and artist.

In the end, we’re all big dreamers, and while we might be afraid to make our thoughts and emotions public, “Youth Lagoon” successfully does so in a magnificent work of pop that everyone should listen to.