Following on from their deceptively dark study of the inner workings and mysteries of the mind, Airhockey are back with yet another bittersweet slice of dream-pop. When speaking of the origins of “The Signs” and its inspiration, Sebastian Hidalgo commented:

[su_quote]’The Signs’ is about not wanting to accept change. Life is always evolving but it’s hard to deal with certain realities, especially when there is comfort in consistency… In my experience, I have found that even wanted change, such as love or achievement, still cause internal conflicts within me. Ultimately, we have to come to terms with what we choose for ourselves, and this song is my reflection on that.[/su_quote]

Much like the vibes built on “hidden by the sun“, “The Signs” possesses the same kind of dichotomous and misleading nature that’s fast becoming a staple of Airhockey’s music. Here, this is seen in the breezy and feather-light synth that is hinged around and coupled with an oddly menacing guitar riff. The guitar seems pensive and solemn, ringing out across the track with a contemplative tone.

All of this is accentuated by Sebastian Hidalgo’s distorted, near whispered vocals that seep into the swirling mass of sound. If Hidalgo’s vocal range and impressive tone evoke tangled dream worlds and private landscapes, “The Signs” offers the listener a peek into a truth that seems deeply affecting to the singer.

Despite its troubling subject matter and focus on change, “The Signs” is purifying and calming. The sounds of either a breeze or the waves that permeate the closing 30 seconds of the track just helps aid with this feeling of catharsis. It acts as a palette cleanser, washing over the listener refreshingly, before allowing the synths to ease out into oblivion. Listen below.

Hailing from the suburbs of Miami, the genre-bending four piece airhockey have dropped their second single “hidden by the sun.” On this new offering, the anchoring ethereal synth line emulates the pop-rock of The Cure, but when paired with Sebastian Hidalgo‘s woozy and muted vocals, it creates a sound that’s markedly distinctive. With the oddly dark bassline surging just underneath these distant, distorted vocals, there’s a dichotomy that’s formed. Whilst “hidden by the sun” is, on the surface, innocently upbeat and lively, the effect of the bass combined with an overlaying bending guitar creates something that is melancholic at its root.

Lyrically, the allusions to the inner workings of the mind such as “seeing you in my head,” injects the track with an obsessive energy, one that’s near viscous in its darkness. This obviously brings to mind acts such as Joy Division or DIIV. “hidden by the sun” is a disarmingly intricately woven track that manages to remain cohesive and unjarring despite its many musical influences. The balance between the dreamy, muffled vocals, the clean jangling guitars and sharp pulsating drums works to great effect. Brimming with raw power and a vibrant force, the track lingers long after the fizzling guitars have stopped. Listen below.