Featured Scene: Glo-Fi

The indie music scene has been a mish-mash of genres and subgenres and "genre-defying" musical statements lately. It can be hard to keep a handle on them, as many of these trends disappear as quickly as they arrive. While few artists are willing to pigeonhole themselves and categorically limit themselves to the strictures of a genre, there are certain defining characteristics that help us (it is human nature to want to label and classify everything we interact with - essentially labels are "shortcuts" for our brain that keep us from having to understand a thing in all of its levels of complexity and nuance each time we re-encounter it).

Glo-Fi is one of the names (my personal favorite) given to a fairly unique subgenre spawned last spring. Also known as "Chillwave" and "Hypnagogic Pop", trademarks of the genre include lo-fi (low fidelity) production, quasi-new age melody/80's references, and a hazy, dreamlike production feel. The production mix often puts the vocals in a similar range to the instruments, lowering contrast and creating a relaxed vibe. Below are tracks from a few of Glo-Fi's early success stories - consider this a sampler of a genre in infancy and see which parts of it tickle your fancy.

Delorean - Seasun
Delorean - Big Dipper
Delorean hail from Barcelona, and their debut four track EP, Ayrton Senna, emerged last May and kicked off the sound of summer 2009. "Seasun" was my #4 track of 2009, riding glorious repetition into the sunset.

Neon Indian - Terminally Chill
Neon Indian - Deadbeat Summer
Neon Indian bring a jouncy feel to a synth-based electronic backdrop, and they may well be Glo-Fi's answer to MGMT. Sure, the synthetic sound is far more relaxed and subdued, but the same inherent desire for that moment of pop bliss still pervades. "Terminally Chill" made it to #22 on my Best of 2009 countdown, but "Deadbeat Summer" would have been an equally worthy choice.

Washed Out - Feel It All Around
As gauzy as it gets, Washed Out is the culmination of the meme of relaxing music. It functions simply to wash over you with oozing melody and dream-like vocals.

Toro Y Moi - Thanks Vision
Toro y Moi is behind the Glo-Fi curve on release dates, as he missed the party last summer. Causers of This just hit record shelves a week ago and "Thanks Vision" is an excellent summation of his sound, vocals deeply ensconced within layers of pulsing, fluid melody.

Small Black - Despicable Dogs
Small Black - Despicable Dogs (Washed Out Remix)
Small Black (now on tour with Washed Out) garnered notice from the lo-fi, dynamic squeal of "Despicable Dogs." If the original is a bit under-produced for you, try Washed Out's remix, wrapped in a shoegaze-haze that sounds like it belongs on the Lost In Translation Soundtrack.