Retrolust: Press





Press Clippings:



06/21/07 As I Hear It
Artist: Retrolust
Song: "Whisper to Me" (from the CD Bad Reception)
Heard By: Saehee Cho, La Jolla


I guess it was sort of like Hot Chip. Maybe a little bit like Muse. [The music was] repetitive with very distorted vocals; electronic [and] dance-y but a little too slow to be danced to. I didn't like iti very much. I guess the beginning part was kind of nice with the keyboard until the electronics came in. The lyrics were the thing I especially didn't like. I think of of the lyrics was "hold me tight," or something like that. It was just kind of cheesy. It's probably good driving music. I'm sure there's an audience for it.
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10/18/07 As I Hear It
Artist: Retrolust
Song: "Japanese Hot Rod" (from the CD Pump It)
Heard By: Nature, Downtown


I really liked the song; I thought it had a lot of good energy. I really liked the progression of the beat structure -- it went from half-time to double-time. They switched it back and forth, which is really good from a listener's point of view. I also like the melodic progression -- it was soft and subtle through the whole track. They're definitely electro-pop. I would say they have a similar feel to the Postal Service or something in that vein. I think that maybe the vocalist could use a little more intonation, but overall I thought [he] was really good. [If I was listening to that song] I would either be dancing or starting a creative project.
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12/06/07 As I Hear It
Artist: Retrolust
Song: "Superstarrr" (from the CD Wired)
Heard By: Thorin Tobiassen, College Area


I was excited about the intro; It sort of reminded me of older Nine Inch Nails. The content of the lyrics wasn't really my style, but the tone matched the song very well. I think one of the lines was he's "committing all the right sins." The angst of it was almost like Linkin Park, but the lyrical content was more like pop punk. The background music seemed pretty nice except there wasn't a lot of variance; it had a more electronic sound to it. The character of the [singer's] tone was good for the music. He wasn't a ridiculously good singer, but it was solid -- it wasn't grating at all. It would be good cruisin' music if you were on your way to a friend's house at night.
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11/29/07 Sideline Magazine Review of Bad Reception
Retrolust - Bad Reception (cd Retrolust) - Posted on 29 Nov, 2007

Retrolust is a 2-man group dedicated to a rebirth of 80's synth pop through a fusion of modern electronics. Upon hearing each other's music on an online music-posting site, the 2 became fans and started a collaboration via the internet. Most songs contain fresh ideas and sound up to date. The timbre of the singer's voice sometimes reminds me of Terence Trent D'Arby and contemporary boys band singers and fits well to the music containing Human League and Mesh elements. It's a pity the drums aren't worked out that well because some songs sounds too easy and need more complex rhythms to get more body. On the other hand "Commercial Mentality", "Black and Blue" and "Signal Sinners" can still satisfy me and make me nostalgic about the 80's. 10 songs of love, confusion and anxiety getting not that bad reception at all. (NOA:6/7)NOA.
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01/23/2008 Hometown Cds
Album: Wired (2007)
Artist: Retrolust
Label: Nethertune Records
Where available/price: CDBaby.com for $11.50 or iTunes for 99 cents per song

Songs:
1) In My Head 2) Superstarrr 3) RX 4) In Vein
5) Faith for a Sedative 6) House of Fallen Saints
7) Daylight Savings 8) Lovers Tree
9) Duplicated and Dumbfounded
10) Look at Me Now 11) Mortem

Band: Garrett Kai (vocals, keyboard, electronic production),
Trevor Denounce (vocals, keyboard, electronic production)
Website: retrolustmusic.com


Retrolust's genius is that this much sound comes from two guys. Garrett's whiny voice lays flat against the electronic backbeat, which emphasizes the poppy lyrics. On track 2, "Superstarrr,' the lyrics go, "I'll taste your lips and flash some tit and entertain a taboo.' In the same song, the "paparazzi,' the best "blow,' and "sex videos' repeat in the hook like a satirical love letter to celebutantes of Paris and Lindsay's ilk.

The drawbacks of only two guys making this much sound is that it sounds a little cheesy in some parts. The album's wholly electronic and keyboard arrangements come off as though someone hit the "rumba' button on a standup Casio and went about recording the rest of the track. The basics seem ignored; musical elements are glossed over. But there are enough high-flying sound effects, nimble keyboarding, and rhythmic complexity to distract the listener from the tinny quality.

I know the guys were going for a dark but contemporary "Nine Inch Nails meets Prince' glitchy pop sensibility, but the album feels more like a resurrection of all the bad parts of sterile, math-y '80s new wave. And there's a reason that musical phase evolved or died out: it's a little damn irritating.
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