Atmospheric synths and melodic guitar complement hooky vocal turns on Pt. V, the new album from Degrees, a duo based in Tranås, Sweden. Mikael Jakobsson and Rickard Folke met in 2001, and formed the project in 2008. Originally recorded in 2012 and released this year, Pt. V represents their fifth album.
The opening “You Don’t Know What Love Is” weaves gentle piano and spacey synths with atmospheric immersion, bursting with effervescent and jangling guitars as a rhythmic accompaniment emerges. The album’s knack for compelling soundscapes becomes quickly apparent with this satiating opening track. “Shake Shake Shake Shake” continues that allure, this time complemented by vibrant vocals alongside the dazzling synths and new-wave bass lines; the infectious ’80s nostalgia is wholly apparent.
Pt. V stirs with an eclectic range of sounds, made evident also by “Dear Diary” and its assortment of brisk acoustics and gliding guitars into the “curiosity killed the cat,” lush vocal emergence. Lush treats are abound. The psych-friendly “Dear Diary” casts a meditative spell, while “Floods” struts a dreamy pop glow with its hazy synths. Pt. V is a showcase in quality songwriting and serene atmospheric immersion from Degrees.
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“You Don’t Know What Love Is” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of October 2023’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
