Demigod of the musical staff
Sundown in Oaktown, the succeeding album to triton.’s Washed Up (2017), is a musical triumph rife with ingenuity and an overwhelming sense of calm, a stark, poetic juxtaposition to its lyrical profundity. The magnum opus of a self-taught musician with Hawaiian roots, Sundown in Oaktown is the musical embodiment of what can only be described as a living, breathing book.
Listeners looking to escape the mundane and monotonous Muzak hysteria need only press play to embark upon a melodious and lyrical journey rife with honesty, integrity and creativity. And there’s no denying triton.’s musical prowess. Growing up amongst reggae-centric sounds, triton. sought out music from the mainland. Everything from post-hardcore to Modest Mouse piqued his interest, leading to triton.’s inception.
triton.’s desire to infuse a variety of tried and true sounds, artfully creating something new, served as his driving force. In his own words, “Same ingredients, but a different recipe.” And there’s no limit to what triton. can concoct.
Sundown in Oaktown unfurls with a melodic overture, and there’s an overwhelming calm in preparation for a preternatural awakening. The Islands of Aloha are embroiled in each track, triton.’s Hawaiian roots weaving effortlessly throughout the 40 minutes of listening time.
triton.’s sophomore album sets the proverbial stage with “_bougainvillea.”, complete with his flawlessly executed command of string instruments. Ethereal ukulele vibes offer eternal tranquility, triton.’s sound as awe-inspiring as it is original. Midway through “_bougainvillea.”, modest percussion and a faint static hiss filter wistfully in and out. As Hawaiian imagery looms large and lap steel guitars cascade from one crescendo to the next, each song serves as its own separate entity albeit catering to a greater purpose.
triton. seamlessly blends acoustic and electric guitars, transitioning between Logic-induced percussion and live drums. “_sangre_azul_” and “orchids.” feature hardcore punk powerhouse Jarrod Alexander, adding to the latter’s intensity. “You were tripping over/half-read Hemingway/littered across my bedroom floor/along with the empty bottles/from the night before.” triton. delivers a sound that’s inexplicably his own, a poetic grace demanding attention; a raw, visceral sound that knows no bounds.
Every note, every chord rings out with emotive dignity, never overpowering triton.’s spellbinding, captivating lyrics. To quote Kurt Cobain, “The worst crime is faking it,” and triton.’s ethos resonates from within. Sundown in Oaktown is replete with an airy, all-encompassing ambiance, notes analogous to “Dramamine” (Modest Mouse) enrapturing those who take this journey with him.
For “alcatraz_”, Geoff Rickly offers guest vocals whilst working as the co-producer/preproduction for the album, and Tim Payne extends his expertise on bass (also on “ _EMBRKDRO_” and “orchids.”). “alcatraz_” cuts bone-deep as triton.’s skinned and exposed lyrics offer insight into his lyrical genius. Other guest appearances include Aaron Gillespie (guest vocals on “all_is_vanity”) and AJ Perdomo (guest vocals on “_haunt_”).
Since Sundown in Oaktown is a masterfully crafted work of musical narration, it’s only fitting that its concluding lyrics (“_heliconia___”) would strike yet another emotive chord within. “A hit to numb the pain I can’t feel me/a drink to seize the brain I don’t know me/take it all away just to lose me/beat myself back up and I’ll abuse me.” triton. offers a welcome return to artfully crafted music, and will undoubtedly continue to dominate the music scene.
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