A feel-good, melodic EP from Darkpines and Brother’s Crickets, The Vacation Pack finds the two longtime friends combining their songwriting talents. Breezy pop, engaging rock, and synth-touched intrigue all take hold throughout at various points, surrounding themes that focus on the warmness in life. “Family vacations, togetherness, and the mundanity/profundity of watching children grow up,” are described as the themes within. Bursting with love and adoration, the EP excels in its harmonious sound.
“The album is intentionally open to interpretation,” says Darkpines, aka Zach Dow. “But I like to imagine it starts with the excitement of a coming vacation, then facing the reality of actually getting the family to their destination, then after a series of mishaps and interactions, the protagonist(s) find peace and awe in the wonders of the world and existence.”
Brad Austin (Brother’s Crickets) and Dow impress throughout, kick-started by the pulsing bass, hazy vocal harmonies, and “just wanna take off with you,” yearning on opening track “Ankle Deep.” Elsewhere, “Timezones” struts the project’s more synth-inclined movements, melding whirring arpeggiation with a spirited vocal ascent. “Keeping It Cool” is a lusher success in the electronic realm, while “Waking Firs” blends folk-pop and electronic components for a beautifully eclectic send-off to this fantastic EP from Darkpines and Brother’s Crickets.
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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
