[MP3] Palmbomen: "Myself" & "Moon Children"

Chillwave could be a current trend or another phase of the music industry’s cycle, like so many different phases preceding it. However, the only way I can accurately describe the genre is (typically) with two words: dance music. Since singing along to 80′s music is only fashionable when drunk and indie enthusiasts usually don’t grind to hip hop, blend some characteristics from both together and shake it at small, sweaty venue of your choice.

It’s incredibly easy to sway and gyrate to this type of music, even though half of the artists emerging from the genre will be completely forgotten a decade from now. Yet, such is the case for an array of bands from nearly every musical movement of year’s past. For every Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam there were hundreds of other flash-in-the-pan acts who disappeared as grunge gave way. Might as well enjoy some flashes while the pan is hot:

[MP3] Palmbomen – Myself

Palmbomen, which is Dutch for “palm trees”, is a one-man act from the Netherlands crafting glitchy glo-fi pop in such a solid way you’d think the freaky-deaky Dutch have been doing the chillwave scene for a good while. “Myself” is a synth heavy tune, with sporadic keyboard breakdowns.

[MP3] Palmbomen – Moon Children

“Moon Children”, the title track from Palmbomen’s EP, builds much slower than tracks on his debut release but has catchy percussion and faded vocals to boot. It’s what Jon Pareles would call “reccession-era music: low-budget and danceable.” Aside from this EP put out via Dutch label Non Records, there’s very little known about Palmbomen stateside. If he can catch the wave, however, that all could change.