Easy Rain - Just Fantasy

Easy Rain

Just Fantasy
self-released; 2024

​By ​Dino DiMuro

South Carolina’s Easy Rain is an EDM band dedicated to creating ethereal, cinematic beats and grooves using organic instrumentation. Their music is inspired by new age and jam bands, combining the essence of both. They aim to provide "an interesting blend of laid-back sounds that will take you to new heights of euphoria and help you find your inner peace." The band’s composer and lyricist is Geoff G. Klein. Though biographical details are scarce, Easy Rain was formed in 2004 and has released singles on various platforms, along with their newest Spotify album titled Just Fantasy.

​I was admittedly skeptical before listening that EDM tracks with overt nods to hip-hop and rap could induce a state of euphoria, but they got me damned close! The tracks all share a smooth production sound, sections of pleasantly repetitive melodic beats, and a female lead singer with a gorgeous voice that’s presented in both processed and natural states. There are 14 songs here, and the following are some favorites.

"In Memoriam" begins with a massive bank of hockey arena-style organs. Our female vocalist enters alongside a simple beat and melodic pattern, weaving a dreampop spell. The middle section makes a seamless transition into a muted, island-style beat, then introduces a full-bodied synth bass lead. This track is a sign of things to come in that the songs don’t slavishly adhere to traditional structures, sounding cohesive while still wandering far afield. "On My Mind" feels more like funky pop, with our singer moving to the forefront of the track. She begins with powerful double-tracked verses, then does a kind of jazz scat for the duration atop another synth-heavy space jam. This track features what sounds like a saxophone processed through a video game. Way cool!

"Free Spirit" is one of the shorter tracks at barely two minutes, though the average length of each track is about three. The singer is presented here without any tricks or processing, and it’s clear she truly possesses the amazing voice I suspected she had. Though I like the brevity, I do wonder if this track (and others) would be even better by repeating the opening verses before the final fade. A lot of great ideas come and go rather quickly. The song "Miracle" is a perfect embodiment of its title, with magic glissandos and a pop-friendly vocal that seems to echo off into eternity, followed by a sweet jazz-inflected guitar section and a surprise male rap, the only one on the collection.

Moving forward, the album begins to favor instrumentals more than vocals. "ChillHouz" has both a chill vibe and sounds like it was played on blocks of carved ice with bone-chilling digital winds surrounding the hushed melodies. Amazing beats here! "Something New" is based on expansive keyboards and funky guitar, with simple but engaging drum loops. "Home Base" features a laid-back space vibe, while "Slurp" is an amusingly thumpy funk workout that wouldn’t sound out of place coming from Devo, until our lovely vocalist returns with stunning multi-tracked harmonies, anchored by an in-the-pocket bass patch. "Making Love" has a sweet R&B sheen over a funky beat, an interesting change-up. The album’s final three tracks are all instrumental, a bit more straightforward and hypnotic in nature.

​Again, I wasn’t sure the artist could deliver on his promise of "new heights of euphoria," but he got me close enough to highly recommend this collection!

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