The View From Here is Stunning; Lofi is as good as it’s ever been in 2024
2024 is off to a magnificent start for the Lofi community, and this most recent release from Bowerbird Records might just be our favorite Lofi soundscape of the calendar year, thus far! Two producers, Kiik & JazzyHan have crafted and shared with the world a truly stunning piece of art with Morning View. Today we get to dive in and truly appreciate all that this sonic journey has to offer; a masterclass in just how much musical depth and flavor can be manufactured in less than 2 minutes.
The track’s multifaceted atmosphere is lead by a folky and transcendent guitar progression that establishes a comforting and steady vibe to grab onto, as a plethora of beautiful layers add, subtract, ebb, and flow throughout this nostalgic melodic expedition. Introductory chirping birds and ambient noise generate a nature-forward aura that tells us, “soon Winter will end and Spring’s warmth will be upon us”. Fading into the guitar progression is a mesmerizing synth-patch that captures the remembrance of a happy childhood in audio form. Once the beat drops in, we’re met with a sidechained, drunk-ish pulsing effect that makes our heads bob in such a satisfying way. The kick drum and hi-hat patterns are truly married in harmony. Plucky guitars and ambient guitar riffage is pleasantly complimented by synthy counter-melodies that weave in-and-out with calculated variety and superb taste. Perhaps the most stunning and breathtaking element in Morning View is the piano melody that arrives at 0:52 and dubs itself the cherry-on-top to an already melodically-complex soundscape. Once this reverberated piano syncopation presents itself, we’re met with a level of emotional gratification and resolution that can often be found in the climactic high-point of a dramatic film. The piano and lead guitar dance around each other seamlessly at the track’s emotional peak, with the perfect amount of space carved out in the mix for each flavor to sing through clearly; a stereo image that really makes this track shine on another level. This goodie bag of musical ingredients finally winds down, and we fade out into the musical horizon, pondering the resonant experience we just took in with our ears. Morning View reminds me of the reason we started this blog to begin with; our genre and it’s talented creators deserve to be shared with the world.
Bowerbird is no stranger to the Lofi scene. A stroll through their Ambient Lofi Beats playlist on Spotify will leave you stunned at the sophistication of the label’s discography. As an artist who has released with the label on multiple occasions, I can speak to the professionalism and high-quality experience that comes with releasing with Bowerbird It’s no surprise that they would release such a Chillhop classic with Morning View. South Korean producer JazzyHan has been dropping gems for quite some time now, with an impressive catalogue boasting releases from Lofi giants such as Hip Dozer, Chill Select, Lofi Chill & More; including a feature on Lofi Girl’s 2023 Christmas compilation and a current feature on Spotify’s official Sunny Beats playlist. Kiik, another Korean musician with a breadth of diverse musical experiences, has an immense catalogue of refreshing and heavily textured Chillhop offerings that truly bring perspective to the level of talent that can be found in the Lofi arena. She has a slew of releases with Kiwi Bear, Chillhop Guru & and an impressive volume of successful independent releases. The two Korean producers have truly outdone themselves with Morning View; a perennial Lofi mantlepiece.
When I listened to this tune for the first time on release day morning, the feelings of satisfaction and comfort were unreal. The Lofi community is in good hands, and the view has never been better.
You can enjoy Morning View on your favorite listening platform HERE
