“Hideaway” marks the first of many singles in 2021 for Verandan, the project of Ville Hopponen (whose former band Cats on Fire was featured here over a decade ago). Jangling guitars and nostalgic synth flourishes adorn this section with a strong melodic pull, the “listen to the changing winds,” hook standing out considerably. The later saxophone addition adds wonderfully to this dreamy mix, especially throughout the thrilling conclusion, where suave guitars and sax intermingle cohesively. Sophisti, dream, and jangle-pop components meld with strongly melodic results throughout “Hideaway.”
Hopponen elaborates on the project’s formative process below:
“At the time I had an office job that really made me want to focus on something else the rest of the time. Since I have played music since 1876 but never really written any songs myself it was a slow and meticulous process. The only aim was writing and recording some songs that I could hopefully tolerate even in the future. And also to do this with the best musicians I could find and whose judgement I fully trusted. They really pulled everything together and made it work, contributing all sorts of good ideas.
There was no particular musical style in mind. The point was to explore different ideas and themes – musical and otherwise – that for some reason kept appealing to me, while at the same time chasing a particular kind of elusive ”mood”. Sometimes what came out was surprisingly ”traditional”, which is fine too since it was never about being inventive just for the sake of it. It was more about conveying exactly the right feeling, whatever that is.”
Band members include Aleksi Peltonen (Puunhalaaja) Aki Pohjankyrö (Black Twig, LOVE SPORT), Kaarlo Stauffer (Black Twig), and Sampo Seppänen (Sofa Pets, Kynnet).
—
“Hideaway” and other memorable tracks from this month can also be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of February 2021’ Spotify playlist.
The track is also featured in the genre-based, best-of Spotify compilation Emerging Dream-Pop.
