Rather Vapid and the dense progressively wrought tourist trap of "Backdrops"

 

"maintain a certain aesthetic..."

There is a delicious cagey quality to "Backdrops" by Rather Vapid, the Baltimore based project helmed by songwriter, musician Jay Vogel. The heavy synth and guitar work wrapping around drum beats and Vogels, strident wail creates a divergent post rock theater with an air of tension, of claustrophobia. 

Of the song Vogel shares:

"This is the story of a tourist facing off against a city fiercely protective of its culture and aesthetic. The lyrics describe a place seemingly obsessed with obtaining clout and "matching a vibe." the tourist simply wants to visit the beach, but he quickly learns that the beach is just a backdrop for photographs and balcony views. The first half of the song is fast and upbeat, a dream pop rock song with vocals soaked in reverb and a melody that evokes wonder but also a sense of nostalgia for what has been lost. The break in the middle of the song with a technical drum pattern takes us into the final section, a triumphant chorus with building guitars and vocal layering as our narrator tries to grip the reality of the place that has consumed him."

When the musical breakdown erupts the groove feels cavernous with progressive guitar lines moving throughout. This well produced track sounds great loud, in headphones, a heady escapist ride to get lost in. 

-Robb Donker Curtius

Rather Vapid · Backdrops

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Rather Vapid is a project led by Baltimore-based musician, Jay Vogel. The self-titled album and follow-up EP, Lower Layer, showcased a mixture of metal and industrial rock, particularly with the acclaimed 'Wraith' and 'Your Peripheral'. His 2021 debut single, 'Vibrations', descended even deeper into the abyss, telling a twisted tale of gifted individuals lured by the occult. The newest single, however, suggests that Vogel has reached rock bottom in terms of his dark tones and may be climbing upward. 'Backdrops' incorporates more elements of dream pop and shoegaze without sacrificing that hint of darkness inherent to Rather Vapid's style. It's the story of a man, stubborn in his ways, up against a city fiercely protective of its culture and aesthetic. Described by some as an "odyssey" of a track, listeners are taken on a sonic journey toward a climactic, triumphant jam that would be fitting for, say, a day out on a boat, racing through the coastal waterways.

Rather Vapid, Shoegaze / Dream Pop, Lo-fi Rock, Alternative Rock, "Backdrops", Baltimore, Maryland, metal and industrial rock, EP Lower Layer, musician, artist Jay Vogel