Teen Daze, the recording moniker of British Colombia producer Jamison Isaak, features the self-taught artist bringing his software and program prowess into dance music that blends pop, electronica and romanticism into a very charming and memorable formula.
Isaak opens the listen with the warm atmosphere of “Last Time In This Place,” which recruits Joseph Shabason on saxophone and synthesizer for the dreamy, brass-friendly start. “Swimming” and “Nite Run” follow, where the former is a beat-heavy and infectious display of shimmering pop and gentle rhythms, while the latter is a playful and highly melodic version of electronica that utilizes manipulated vocals with much skill.
The middle portion brings us the strategic repetition of the hazy, synthwave-fueled “Nowhere,” as well as the ambient texturing of the hypnotic “Interior,” which benefits from Joel Ford’s deft bass playing. “Still Wandering,” one of the shorter tracks, then makes a sizable impression with its soulful qualities and wordless vocals that mesh well with the swirling melodies
The final pair of tracks are among the best. “2 AM (Real Love)” features Cecile Believe on vocals as frisky beats and dynamic electro-pop flows with precision, and “Translation” relies heavily on mood in its house music sensibilities that could easily soundtrack a late night at the club.
A listen that’s glitchy in a bedroom pop sort of way but also rich with mass appeal, for those with an ear for French house music, ambient pop and atypical electronica, Teen Daze cover all the bases for making a record that’s technically creative, uses grooves sparingly and is soaked in detailed production.
You never know quite what to expect from a Teen Daze record, and this one points towards Isaak’s earlier body of work spanning indie-rock, disco, funk, and his unique version of electronica.
