Royal Trash is the solo project for Portland based producer Tony Dutcher. His album The Hidden Corner put down the guitar in favor of synth and drum machines. It’s a complete bedroom lo-fi effort. I have to admit I wasn’t always a fan of the vocal delivery and treatment but for the most part though the music was what made the songs work.
Up first is “Room With A View” which contains a jagged synth bass line, atmospheric pads and a simple drum beat. The chorus on the song is really what dragged me in. It’s catchy and I thought his vocal delivery excelled here. “A Raindrop” has a sterile, digital feel to it. Besides the guitar, it sounded like virtual instrumentation. I think I wanted more dynamics from the drums. Like on the previous songs I thought the chorus was what really brought the song home. “Hello Moon” was a highlight. The song has a good amount of energy along with a number of infectious hooks. On top of that the juxtaposition between the arpeggiated synths and pads has some of his best layering. He follows “Hello Moon” with another standout entitled “It’s Alright” which could be the single. After providing some synth funk with “The Low Point” he closes with the most experimental and atmospheric song entitled “These Ways.” “These Ways” is definitely not the most accessible song but I was glad he took some chances. It took a little warming up and I thought it was a “grower.” Dutcher has some good ideas and I encourage him to keep pushing boundaries and getting more proficient in advanced production techniques. Overall, I think this is a solid foundation that he can build upon.
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