A new track from Berlin-based band Strange Souvenirs, “Beaches” exudes a contemplative charm with its chilled-out vocals, jangly guitar twinkles, and calmly pulsing rhythm section. Lyrically, there’s a yearning for newness in the face of despair — “teach me some new chords to strum, 2021,” — while also acknowledging being swept up in the waves of nostalgic yearning. The closing refrain — “and leave this town,” — presents a more forward-looking appeal, as the hypnotic guitar jangles and vocals fade. While structural variation is minimal, the track’s relatable lyrical yearning and mesmerizing guitar jangles makes for a perpetually engrossing result.
Describing what the track is about, the band write: “The bittersweet waves of the past and present breaking in our hearts and heads, splashing and stinging us as beads of regret, joy, confusion and bewilderment trickle down our cerebral cortex. Kind of.”
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This track and others featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of January 2022’ Spotify playlist.
