The New Division - Shadows

http://thenewdivision.bandcamp.com/album/shadows


A majority of chillwave sounds mostly like slowed down 80's pop with a lot of reverb, not that that's a problem. The New Division, however, takes from new wave in their 2011 release, "Shadows". Combining synthpop with, as their tags on bandcamp suggest, New Order-esque sound, TND has managed to take chillwave and throw it in a different direction than I personally have heard before. With parts of the vocals having glitchy effects while the rest remains haunting, the rhythm and melodies maintaining a certain pop-y flair,and there still being the dark guitar and bass line, "Shadows" proves to be one of the best chillwave albums of 2011.

The beginning of "Opium" almost makes me feel like I'm about to accidentally watch some sort of big game, but then subtly it transforms into what I feel will be the usual sound I've come to love from chillwave. Then the vocals jump in with that high-pitch string synth, and I begin wondering if I'm actually listening to Depeche Mode. This song, to put it simply, just "comes in handy for a bad day". "Shallow Play" maintains the well placed sound of sounding dark, with haunting vocals that are just as dark, and a slight pop-sparkle sound on top, while this time having a Gold Panda-esque vocal glitch on top. More or less, this song fits any mood, while it best fits staring at your ceiling waiting for something good to happen. The third track, "Sense" reminds me of the Australian pop artist Cut Copy, that might just be me though. Regardless, the song is great. It's catchy, it's fun, it's still as dark as the rest of the album while still having that bit of pop that the rest does. I love it, this might actually be my personal favorite on the album. Something about the chorus just really draws me in, while the entire song is just playful enough to be dancey. Just when I thought the song was over, it picks up again, even more haunting than before, while being even more danceable than before too.

I feel it would be best if left the rest of this amazing, dancey, dark, poppy, album to you guys. It's really quite fantastic, I can't imagine why anyone from the 80's, or chillwave connoisseurs, or those in love with pop, wouldn't adore this.