Borer Treetops is the moniker and dream-pop project of Cambridge-based artist, Roberto P. We reviewed the first two full-length releases by Borer Treetops (2021’s Loud Silence, and 2022’s White Pearls) and were dazzled by the eclectic blend of vintage psychedelia and modern electronica that they presented. Serendipity is the name given to Borer Treetops’ latest album, and this release sees Roberto P dive into a more organic, stripped-back sound, placing more emphasis on the use of guitars than in the synth-laden textures of White Pearls. A common thread, however, is the delightful pop songwriting that Borer Treetops continues to develop with each successive album.
Roberto P. presents a twisted disco sort-of vibe with the album’s second track, Crabby Dance (which follows the aptly smooth, instrumental opener, Welcome). This dance track is built around a punchy, grooving bassline, and speaks to the indecision and anxiety that surrounds meeting someone for either the first time or the first time in a while. The track effectively becomes looser and more chaotic over its duration, ending in a swirling mix of fuzzed-out guitar blasts, and warm 80’s synth tones.
Blue ebbs and flows in such a beautiful way that it almost defies the dejected subject matter, but really it is this bittersweet contrast that underpins the song, with the singer reminiscing about the treasured memories he has of a lover that has slipped beyond reach. The song is built around a gorgeously pensive chord progression and makes use of simple hand percussion to keep the rhythm. The whole lyric is heartbreaking and poetic… “She’s the morning coffee on a Monday Blue / A beautiful song that ends too soon / She’s the timid sunshine right after the rain / The beautiful song that never leaves my brain…”
Friends or What sees the singer trying to wrap his head around the nature of his relationship with the apple of his eye… “Let me get it straight / Sure there’s something more / Than our words have ever said / I can feel the blow / Can you smell it in the air?” Another punchy bassline spells out the four-chord sequence and the vocal lines are punctuated by super melodic guitar and synth lines. Roberto P. doubles up the vocals nicely, singing with himself in close harmony during the verses and using a call-and-response approach throughout the chorus.
Borer Treetops embraces a downbeat tempo for the second-to-last track, Fireworks. This song is a masterclass in psychedelic songwriting, with its airy seventh-chord voicings, and stream-of-consciousness-style lyrics. “I keep forgetting what it’s like / Losing yourself in butterflies / Release your soul and let it fly / Watching the fireworks in the sky” sings Roberto P. over a warbly backdrop of guitar, synths, and long, drawn-out drum fills.
Serendipity captures the listener with its dreamy, ethereal textures and holds this attention with its heavy serving of pop hooks and introspective storytelling. This album almost sounds like a cool mash-up between Tame Impala and The Stone Roses circa 1989, but to truly get the picture, you’ll just have to put it on repeat and get lost in its vortex of lush, trippy grooves.
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BELOW: Listen to Serendipity and connect with their website and social media platforms. Please support Borer Treetops by visiting them online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music, or attending a live show! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!
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