Welcome to another episode of Dumpster Dives.
This is a weekly series in which Hyperoxia or I deeply analyze an album or EP that caught our attention or stood out.
There is sometimes a narrative and story in it.
2019 Was a very wild year.
In many ways it signified the end of an era. Both personally and worldwide.
Music-wise, many great things came out during that year. You may see some of them reviewed.
This EP came out around the end of the year. It got played on repeat upon finding it. These songs decorated the background of endless mornings and nights.
And as 2020 rolled around, it became more personal.
It’s one of the most unique and emotional releases in D&B I’ve had the pleasure of listening to. I invite you to listen along, as it’s a very good experience.
Let’s get to it.
Voicemail Poems
Our ability to remember is both a curse and a blessing.
It keeps and immortalizes phenomenal moments.
That first kiss, that first leap into the unbound, those silly things done as a kid, that first experience, and countless more.
But it also reminds you of the bad things. Somehow more consistently than the good ones, by the way. (Thanks, Brain)
This song starts with a recording of a man explaining something about a dream he had. It’s a very smooth way to start the song and the EP. It also sets the mood for what’s to come.
Then the countdown begins…
As each number falls, sounds get introduced, the beat builds up, and he builds a certain pressure and excitement…
Then it drops...
The freshest drums you’ve heard mixed with a guitar smoothly decorating the front center and back of the song. Those two act in parallel. Focusing on one means you miss out on the other.
The tempo speed makes it match the rate memories show up. Kind of like when you’re stuck in a doom cycle and play a mix of memories over and over.
The way Boxplot combines instruments is really really good. Each song feels alive and full of things to explore. He is the first person I’ve heard that incorporates guitars in D&B and works well.
Then there’s another midsection voice note. This one feels more personal and bittersweet.
The second drop is the same as the first, just slower. The guitars and the drums are also more detailed. Kind of when you’ve had enough of the doom cycle and shut down.
And as the song comes to a close, the instuments fade and into another memory.
This song is a phenomenal way to start the EP.
Polaroids Of You
I’m going to admit something to you: I DON’T like pictures of myself.
That means no selfies, no group pictures, no nothing.
No, I don’t believe cameras are going to take my soul. I just don’t like it.
It also means that there are very few existing pictures of myself, especially in recent years.
The art of photography is extremely interesting tho. How some magical box can take a moment in time and immortalize it forever is insane.
Does photography mean you can control time? Is there something cameras do that can be used to stop time?
Only time (and a Google search) will tell.
The song itself sounds like plain nostalgia.
It’s also a simplistic song which has the magic in the background.
The mix between Boxplot’s instruments and Ownglow’s love for background details makes for a powerful combo.
An assortment of bells, chimes, and well-designed snares adorn the back while another smoothly played guitar takes the front.
The intro builds the entire song. It gives a slight teaser of what’s coming.
The drop itself is very calm, kind of like audible insight.
There is also a very catchy groove that plays in the background. You can heart it on the midsection and it goes to the second drop.
This one feels like someone realizing their mistakes and wanting that person back.
This song is also really good on road trips, the sounds blend well with the road and its surroundings. After all, the joy in nature comes from the little details.
I give it a hatred for pictures out of a $20 pack of 10 polaroids.
We Lose It All
There is something we silly humans LOVE to do: Fear of losing.
Losing that dream job, losing that money, losing that partner.
It feels like all the time, emotional and financial investment is gone within a moment.
And it also feels like we are NEVER getting it back, at least not in the same form.
I’m here to tell you it’s a load of BULLSHIT because it IS possible to keep going…
You CAN rebuild stronger. You CAN find that partner who is compatible with you. You CAN to find a more meaningful job that aligns with your purpose.
As long as you have a working brain and a beating heart, there is no reason to stay in stasis after a loss. The faster you get back to rebuilding, the faster you’ll realize how losing is nothing more than feedback on what’s broken.
Humans are the most adaptable creature on earth. No matter how bad it gets, you will naturally find a way out.
It’s your choice of what you want the result to be.
So don’t give up. Push through and you’ll see growth beyond your imagination. A lot of problems and losses become part of your story. Learn from them and you’ll be unstoppable.
As for the song…
Boxplot OUTDID himself with this one.
It’s the hardest and most energetic song of the entire EP.
The lyrics, the melody, the buildup, the drop…
Everything about this song is the sound of letting go, moving on, and building something beautiful from the ashes.
The lyrics are phenomenal. They tell a common story with an inevitable realization. Voicians also has a phenomenal voice. He overdid himself on this one.
This song plays on the simplicity of the guitar and drums combo, which Boxplot has perfected. The little sounds in the background are also PHENOMENAL and add a lot of dopamine to the listening experience.
It begins right in the action and stays strong for the whole thing. Even that midsection where it calms down only helps rebuild that same excitement for the second drop.
It’s one song that can be stuck on repeat for 10 hours without tiring of it.
I genuinely believe this song can single-handedly fix any heartbreak and turn that negative energy into a desire to get back on your feet and keep going.
This is the Audible Gold of this release.
Cult of a Broken Man
It’s easy to fall into the “downward spiral” trap.
A “justified” bad habit here, another bad decision “to make myself feel better” there and suddenly you’re knee deep in some crap.
Then the sunken cost fallacy comes and everything gets worse.
That’s what I imagine to be the cult of a broken person.
Someone who keeps sinking down into bad habits and bad decisions despite knowing better.
Its a very depressing sight to see but one that keeps growing.
And while I’d like to say that it’s easy to break free from that…
It can be very tough depending on the context.
But as said before, you can make it out of anything. No matter what.
It’s all about taking it one problem at a time.
This is the song that reminds you that Boxplot is a D&B artist.
It starts with a voicemail, setting the theme as a song marked by nostalgia.
After the voicemail, a soft piano is introduced before getting replaced by aggresssive drums. It’s go time from there..
This song - while heavier - Is full of small details that make it melodic and nice to hear, especially in the background.
Also the quality of the bass is extraordinary.
Everything about this feels energetic and powerful. It brings a feeling of desperation and regret.
The combination of guitars and pianos is really well executed. Unsurprising since, again, this is Boxplot’s bread and butter.
And then, it begins, the stream of thoughts after a bad decision. Hitting like a huge wave.
The drop gives you the feeling of desperation and regret. It’s heavy bass with a piano
The midsection tones everything down to prepare you for the second drop, which goes HARD.
Overall, this song is a really good bridge and a “Starting song” for the American audience, which isn’t too familiar with a more “traditional” sounding D&B.
I give it a “My ears were not prepared for this” out of a Jonestown Cult
In Conclusion
This is one of the most unique D&B EP’s i’ve heard.
The instruments and melodies in each song are memorable and Boxplot’s style is one of the best out there.
I heavily recommend checking out his discography. He is consistently releasing heaters.
Last Words
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See you next week!
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