Wait In The Dark - Memory Tapes - Player Piano (2011, Carpark / Something In Construction / Inertia)

Memory Tapes’ 2009 debut Seek Magic was a seminal album in the glowfi/chillwave explosion of that year. Many of the artists from that scene such as Washed Out and Neon Indian are releasing new albums this year, and Memory Tapes isn’t disappointing either with his second album Player Piano dropping just a few days ago.

The album definitely feels less lo-fi, more polished and slightly tighter than his debut, and this approach seems to be one that his contemporaries are also taking with their upcoming releases. I’m not sure how I feel about that, as Seek Magic, in all its hazy, lo-fi, meadering goodness was and is one of my all time favourite albums. But at the same time I guess critics would be complaining if everything was exactly the same. However, Player Piano is still packed with gauzy alt-pop goodness, such as this fantastic track Wait In The Dark.

Green Knight - Memory Tapes - Seek Magic (2009, Something in Construction)

A perfect song to drift off to sleep to, on a warm, rainy summer night such as tonight.

Swimming Field - Memory Tapes - Seek Magic (2009, Something In Construction)

This was the soundtrack to my last summer, and it’s getting time to drag it out again. My favourite album from one of the coolest subgenres to emerge in the last few years, chillwave.

Run Out - Memory Tapes - Seek Magic (Sincerely Yours / Acéphale / Something in Construction, 2009)

Since mentioning Memory Tapes a couple of posts ago, I’ve been getting back into to his 2009 debut, Seek Magic, in a big way. I’d forgotten just how great it is. Run Out is one of my favourites, a beautiful, wistful track to close what is quite possibly the best chillwave album ever made.