A Missed Opportunity

Brooklyn based band Prince Rama’s newest record Xtreme Now is a clever attempt at psychedelic dance music, but ultimately by the time the record has played out, the listener is left with a feeling of slight dissatisfaction. One would hope that a band discovered by Avey Tare of Animal Collective fame, would create and release a record as spectacularly innovative and accessible as Animal Collective. While there are moments that are entertaining, the overall feeling at the end is that they could have done more.

Here are some good things about Prince Rama’s record. There are a handful of songs that truly show the talent of this band, one of those being “Bahia.” It is a song that stands out among all the other tracks on the album. With its 1980s synth pop influence paired with the remarkably manipulated, but deep vocals, the listener cannot do anything other than dance along or at the very least nod their head in agreement. It does not sound like a song from this decade or from this planet. “Bahia” would be best suited to play in a nightclub in 1985, while women with side ponytails danced with their velour jackets and sweatbands. It explores a familiar territory of dance pop, but the combinations in it and experimental nature behind it make it the best song on the record.

Here are some unoriginal things about Prince Rama’s record. The dreamy beats and ringing vocals are tired. After several songs employ this technique, most notably “Fake Til You Feel” and “Would You Die To Be Adored,” one is ready for something to be changed, even if it would only be for a brief amount of time.

While there are some improvements that can be made on this record, it is important to note that Prince Rama are not a bad band. They are a band that has an exponential amount of potential. The only problem is the way in which they are using their musical and artistic capabilities. It will be interesting to see what direction this band will go in and the success they have if they do explore their sound and discover the beautifully implausible sound they could create. If they continue to make more songs like “Bahia” and investigate the more experimental side to their music, without a doubt, Prince Rama will be a force not only within the dance culture, but the entire music scene.