At The Junction Where Lofi and Authentic Musicality Meet
Disclaimer: We strongly suggest you press play and enjoy the compilation as you read.
Today’s focus is the brand new chillhop compilation provided by Casual Visionaries Club. The compilation features 11 chillhop beats that blend seamlessly together and truly bring meaning to it’s title; Vibrant Junction.
junc·tion
/ˈjəNG(k)SHən/
noun
1.
a point where two or more things are joined.
"the junction of the two rivers"
Vibrant Junction does an excellent job of sonically representing it’s conceptual meaning. Throughout, we hear consistency and confidence in what it initially sets out to be. With an exquisite conglomeration of pianos, guitars, saxophones, keyboards, synthesizers and dusty, uplifting drum grooves, this isn’t your typical sleepy lofi offering that we’ve become so accustomed to these days. And it certainly is not a randomized collection of tracks thrown together in order to call itself a compilation. It’s a 23-minute, carefully crafted listening adventure that maintains a familiar and robust thematic musical aura throughout. We give a more detailed breakdown of the album below.
The album begins with Ice Cream Avenue, produced by Chilean lofi artist Milocero. The wonderful feeling of the gentle jazzy piano progression welcomes us into the Vibrant Junction beautifully. The beat drop gets our heads bobbing instantaneously and lets us know that we’re in for a nice musical train-ride. Soon after, we get to listen to a familiar artist around the Amelia Grace camp, Grapestuff! The tag in from “Ice Cream Avenue” to “a streetlight for time” couldn’t be more seamless, with it’s complimentary e-piano chord plucks and mallet twinkles that make us feel like we’re smoking a cigar in a Cuban club. Pleasant musical breakups from the chillhop drums to more cultural world drums give a slick variety to the track’s sonic palette. Grapestuff then passes the torch to Offghost and Low Key Trampoline for a more twinkly, guitar-based soundscape in “Blue Bubblegum”. This track is as light as a feather and makes us feel like a million bucks with it’s upbeat drum rhythms and bright melodic elements. I particularly enjoyed the way the twinkly guitar leads and synth plucks danced so playfully in between the warm jazz chords. As “sticky fingers” by godzhiller makes it’s entrance, I was so pleased by the smooth transition from upbeat brightness into a smoky, vintage jazz feel. The world’s dustiest detuned piano tone, straight from the 1920’s, is complimented most satisfyingly by carefully placed saxophone licks. I felt like I could smell the cigarette smoke in the room on this one. As sticky fingers fades out, we’re immediately met by vintage hip-hop vocal samples and a super satisfying drop into a punchy, early 90’s hip hop feel, led by a guitar chord progression that is absolutely ice cold. Ben Jammin’ Beats is known for these types of soundscapes, but man, he just keeps getting better! This track had a grin on my face from the beginning and kept me guessing, with its’ simple switch ups that subtract an instrument for a moment, only to bring it back in at just the right time. At about the half-way point of the record, we’re gifted with a very tasteful and musically-rich interlude of sorts; with “Pie In the Sky” by oxinym. This track is as musically mature as lofi and chillhop beats come, with a sophisticated jazz guitar progression, authentic melodic motion from a delicate piano, and what sounds to be a soprano sax gently wailing away in the distance. With the over-saturation of our genre these past few years, and in the age of crafting beats to fit metadata, algorithms and playlists, it feels good to hear some authentic musicality. Well done, sir! As we move into the compilation’s second act, we’re met with Swaying Serenade by EDM gurus Closed Loop & Svspension; the collaborating sweethearts that have been pushing into the lofi and chillhop genres lately with something fresh and different. It seems like they’ve been showing up on all the recent comps, and we welcome them wholeheartedly! The track features punchy kick drums and crisp rim-shots, joined by funky guitar rhythms, fat electronica bass patches and ominous melodic top-lines. The cherry on top is all the wet, juicy texture that fills in the space and ties the piece together. Enter “Schmovin’ by deadxbeat. The thematic sonority and texture of this compilation continues to be consistent, with wavy vintage synth textures, musical piano progressions and far-out vocal chops, tied together by simple off-beat chillhop drums and groovy bass. This track is a true head-bobber, filled with variety and nuance. “Strawberry Cheesecake”, produced by with me, with you, JazzyHan and Solomon Alber, brings a subtle difference to the journey, with an almost 1970’s disco/funk ballad feel. The guitar’s chord progression is infectious and nostalgic, while the intimate saxophone is sweet and juicy. This might have been our favorite track on the whole compilation. This is true chillhop badassery. The penultimate track, “Love” by rj one, sets us up to close out the journey. With it’s nostalgic, emotional keyboards and automating vocals, this track genuinely feels like it’s saying goodbye to us. SP-404 vibes wash over this track with a plethora of ear-candy and clever chops that never get dull or let the music grow stale. At last, we’re beautifully guided into the closing track. A sick drum fill drops us into Metro Movin’ by Sam Fayez. Yet again, vintage keyboards and super groovy, melodic bass lines point to the statement that every single producer understood the assignment on this project. This track sounds like a jam band from the 70’s just wailing and going crazy at the end of a set. The entire project stuck relentlessly to it’s musical intentions. I listen to a TON of lofi and chillhop in this journalism arm of our label, and I don’t often hear projects like this one. The authenticity was truly tangible here.
In a world filled with noise and chaos, "Vibrant Junction" serves as a soothing oasis of musical bliss. With its uniquely musical, upbeat, and jazzy chillhop soundscapes, this compilation album is a testament to the power of music to transport and uplift the soul, no matter the era. Whether you're looking to unwind after a long day or simply immerse yourself in a world of melodic enchantment, "Vibrant Junction" has something to offer for everyone. Well done to Casual Visionaries Club and to all the artists involved.
You can enjoy Vibrant Junction on your favorite listening platform HERE
