The Wilderness

The Wilderness

Cemeteries is an apt moniker for the one-man-band project of Buffalo, N.Y.–based Kyle J. Reigle, who calls his blend of '80s goth and '90s dream-pop "goth-pop." But his 2012 debut album, The Wilderness, was also inspired by dark wooded areas near his home, as well as vintage horror movies and the music of David Lynch collaborator Angelo Badalamenti. With sunny melodies contrasting murky production, the heavily reverberated “Young Blood” is more pretty than gloomy, though its beauty comes from shadowy textures and melancholy moods (similar to those of Tamaryn). The title track moves at a quicker pace. Vintage guitar tones, synth drones, and pedaling rhythms give the tune an air of bygone Paisley Underground trappings, while Reigle’s demure singing keeps things cool and mysterious. Gauzy and ethereal textures billow from “Summer Smoke” just like ... well, smoke. But the heavy-lidded rhythms and restrained keyboards briefly recall Sigur Ros before Reigle’s melodies turn the tune into something on par with early Pink Floyd recordings.

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