Trevor Something "The Shadow" (2025)

 

My introduction to Trevor Something was through his distinct covers of classic songs ranging from 80s Synthpop ear-bugs to 90s Alternative crooners and Industrial anthems. A treacherous terrain to navigate, traversed in complimentary nature to give those oldies a differed flavor. Comprised of original songs, The Shadow has to compete with those high standards. Taking such dreamy aesthetics to his own material, the chasm is felt raw across thirty tracks that fail to illuminate through melody, hook or lyricism. This record falls into the "vibes" category, establishing mood, then ruminating on it endlessly, without any spectacular musical ideas or deviation from the path.

Tracks play slow and sullen like sluggish fever dreams of self indulgent misery. Twisted to melodic might, reverb soaked synths delve into a cold Ethereal melancholy. Soft and soothing by design, these dreary yet absorbing synthetic soundscapes elongate melodies to the tune of sadness. Trevor's ghostly voice echos out above, downtrodden, drowning in the wounds of a self centered lifestyle's emotional loneliness. Heard best in his words, its catchier words echo a crude Manson.

 

The Shadow's architecture lacks diversity, its moods circle the drain. The title track catches an ear with some intriguing repeat cuts, caught between a record skip and digitized glitch, they create a momentary disoriented charm for attentive ears. Occasional vocal warbling encroaches into Mumble Rap vibes. Infrequent but a curious if only brief distinction. Spaced out percussion patterns occasionally go full Synthwave with gated tom drum fills. Once again a brief glimmer of deviation from the overall tone.

 

One can find a few favorite cuts that resonate well within this context. Numb The Pain and Die 1000x stood out for me. They seem a cut above the rest on a record devoid of hooks and memorable moments. Each song tends to melt into the next as feverish aesthetics overpower other fundamentals. A fair and entertaining listen for self indulgence that probably doesn't have the legs to stick in ones mind for too long.

 

Rating: 5/10

Trevor Something "Archetypes" (2024)

 
My introduction to one man band Trevor Something was through a handful of delightful re-imaginations of 80s Synthpop and Alternative classics. I wasn't pulled into his original music, so this new record of twelve cover songs suited me well.

Trevor's built a unique sound, treading a line adjacent to Ethereal, Synthwave and Electro-Industrial. Like a dream inducing sedative, subdued and sluggish, his soft, distant voice steers us through hazy atmospheres. Layered arrangements of textural synths dance, often with chunky bass wobbles. The usual culprit of echo and reverb masks an otherwise sharp set of steady melodies into a concussive daze.

In this reshaping of originals, a unique soothing, slightly dystopian crooning is birthed. You want to stick around and indulge. Not knowing a track wasn't a barrier to entry either, the warmly dystopian aesthetics, lingering tempo and Cyber-Goth vibes maintain across its duration. Closer and No Ordinary Love where my favorites.

All That She Want's is a surprising throwback but record ends with Change (In The House Of Flies), which I thought would be a lay up. On this occasion, a sterile overindulgence approach lost the original spark. Its smokey, cumbersome stride swiftly dulls. Strange ending to an otherwise unique and enjoyable record.

Rating: 6/10