Review by Shannon Shumaker
For fans of LANY, M83 or The 1975, Drive-In’s new EP, Arcade is made up of lush instrumentals, soothing vocals, and sparkling synth. A perfect combination to lull you into relaxation and help you unwind after a long day, or a soundtrack for late night drives, Arcade might be short, but it easily transports you into a neon world that Drive-In created.
Unlike other synth-pop artists currently dominating the airwaves and streaming services, Drive-In take the road less travelled with a more laid-back and soothing approach to their music, and the result couldn’t be better. Although at times, it certainly does fall in line with some of the aforementioned artists, Drive-In have really found their own little niche on Arcade, and it is made up of ambient, retro instrumentals and dreamy vocals. If you haven’t listened to the band yet, then the EP’s first track, “Enough” is the perfect taste test, as it really sets the tone for the following five tracks.
“Waves,” the second track on Arcade, and the third song “Nosedive” provide listeners with great balance. While “Waves” focuses mainly on stunning vocals, there’s not a lot going on instrumentally aside from oscillating synth. On the other side of the spectrum, incredible instrumentation takes the lead on “Nosedive.” The standout, however, is definitely the heartbreaking second to last song, “Something Was Right,” which hosts emotional lines like, “I want you to feel the same” and “It wasn’t easy letting go.”
The only downside on this EP is that it does tend to lose a bit of energy about halfway through, becoming very sleepy by the time “Something Was Right” hits, but when listening to it as a whole, it makes perfect sense. Drive-In have continued to establish a unique sound on Arcade, which will only propel them forward with each coming release. These six songs might not be explosive by any means, but they’re heartfelt, well written and absolutely stunning, and that’s what makes Arcade a powerful release.
LISTEN TO: “Something Was Right” or “Nosedive”
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