Baltimore’s Raindeer are one of those rare bands in which you can pinpoint specific genre influences without being able to ascribe any particular one to them. At its foundation, the Baltimore quartet is a synth pop band but really that label tells you absolutely nothing about the kind of music Raindeer mastermind Charlie Hughes makes.
Their debut self-titled album, released last year, found its influence in B horror movies but managed to do so in a way that wasn’t just rehashing old school film scores. And their follow up, Tattoo takes that same approach and turns its gaze towards the fantastical. With elements of psychedelica, “Now You’re A Dreamer” recalls both The NeverEnding Story‘s sense of cloud-dwelling weightlessness and a bit of experimental carnival pop of Animal Collective’s “Honeycomb”.
“Now You’re A Dreamer” finds a balance between both however, full of smooth, distinguishable moving parts that propel it into flight. It’s a track that doesn’t quite aspire to soar but rather contentedly glide with little to no concern to its eventual landing.
Raindeer’s sophomore record is available now on digital and/or cassette from Friends Records.
