A stylistic and melodic delight, “Shadowed” invigorates with a darkly consuming mixture of retrowave, post-punk, and shoegaze. The track comes via Chicago band Spills, whose new album Reflexions showcases an atmospheric sound heavy on dreamy vocals and nocturnal synth adornments, with a post-punk rhythmic punch. Inspired by “hypnagogic pop and old-school video game music,” “Shadowed” rides on punchy synth additions, jangling backing guitars, and sullen vocal power — its soundscape captivating throughout in addition to hooky melodic shifts. The enveloping, soaring “Afterglow” is another standout album cut.
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“Shadowed” and other memorable tracks from this month can also be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of February 2021’ Spotify playlist.
The track is also featured in the genre-based, best-of Spotify compilation Emerging Dream-Pop.
