cavetown - Gd vibes

cavetown

Gd vibes
self-released; 2014

3.6 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

I don’t have much information about cavetown other than what it says on his Bandcamp page. It’s one guy named Robin and he says “I make music 4 fun in my spare time and sometimes post it here!! hope u enjoy my stuff :) .” It’s almost as endearing, warm and innocent as the music itself. In a lot of ways it gives me the same feeling I get when I listen to Youth Lagoon although the music is quite different. Robin sounds hopelessly young but he owns it with his delivery and the clever lyrics he sings. The songs on his album Gd vibes are mostly centered around guitar and vocals but he does implement electronic elements on occasion to create some variation. 

The opener “Love Song” revolves around a ukulele and vocals. It’s simple but immensely effective and infectious. The chorus got stuck in my head and didn't let go. He sings, “And the sky's not falling down just yet so I think I'll sit right here with you if you'll let me / The birds in the trees they still smile just for me, 'cause I'm doin’ just fine with you.”

“Dysphoric” contains more elements as he implements electronic drums and synths. There is melancholy here that wasn’t present on the first song. I couldn’t help but want to give the guy a hug. That blend of sadness and innocence works.  “Dude Mountain” is a weaker track but he redeems himself with the wonderful “Solar System.” Robin combines warm, dare I say adorable, sounding synth with existential lyrics that go together like peanut butter and jelly. Robin gets away with the lyrics; “The solar system is a mystery, all we feel is misery. Wasting time watching the stars roll by or are they just my memories forming into constellations in the sky” because of the playful music. Robin continues to impress with “Hug all ur friends” and “Hospital” but knocks it out of the park with the closer “Peachy.”

”Peachy” works on many levels and is the most emotionally resonant song on the album. It’s filled with melancholy and lyrics that work. He sings, “ There's something incredible in everything But there's a monster in my way, his song's so deafening And no amount of medication can black out the past It's all about a strength in mindset, we'll be happy at last.” 

When I got to the end of the album I thought about Conor Oberst and Bright Eyes. Bright Eyes made melancholy music with philosophical lyrics but Oberst never had much of an endearing naivety that he embraced. He got mad about and tried to explain it like a second year philosophy major but I never felt much of an endearing acceptance of ignorance. I feel the acceptance of ignorance on Gd vibes. It’s in his voice and it goes a long way since most of us no matter what age don’t have it all figured out. 

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