About a year ago we were introduced to the catalog of Borer Treetops by way of their debut album Loud Silence, which we found to be full of “well-written songs and high-level production“. This one-man project, orchestrated solely by Roberto P., is back as of February 2022 with another release.
Borer Treetops takes inspiration from both classic and modern electronic music styles, and have said this album focuses on “how to deal with feelings and the difficulties of communicating them properly“. Their sophomore effort White Pearls elaborates on musical themes seen in their first release and further solidifies their identifiable electro-alternative style.
HERE’S WHAT WE DUG MOST…
The album opens with the sole instrumental on the project Do You Still Remember? and right away we’re treated to a dynamic collection of synths and electronic textures. There’s a copious amount of movement in this track, but each layer blends smoothly with those around it, creating a unified, dreamlike feel.
Borer Treetops has a tendency to work pop elements into his productions at times, and we get a taste of that on Midnight Visions. A comfortable chord structure and accessible main melody lead the way with a sunny disposition. We also see the arrival of vocals in this track – once again bringing to mind that MGMT comparison from the previous release – but the theme of being haunted by a past love is heavy and melancholy, a stark contrast from the bright instrumentation that makes for an interesting listening experience.
Something we’ve not yet talked about is the lyric writing in Borer Treetops’ work. In the electronic space, lyrics are commonly not a focal point, but in this release especially there clearly has been a great deal of attention and care put into lyric development. One of the strongest examples of this is on Tako-Tsubo. There is a lot of heavy subject matter in the lyrics of these tracks, but these ideas are presented to us in a wholly poetic and evocative way:
“I carved our names on a fallen tree
Relics of a memory that will never be
And I saw your face in the shining light
Of the endless stars on a summer night
And I thought why do all good things always have to end?
Time slips away like sand through my hands
Why do I feel everything’s the same?
Chasing this love I can’t seem to tame
Why does it feel I’m the only one to blame?”
We also love Panic Attack for its musical personification of the phenomena itself – fast, tense, and unyielding. The heavy-hitting rhythms and deep, pulsing synths help to create that atmosphere in a way that non-electronic music never could. It’s a very clever artistic choice. Falling is also a standout, showcasing a softer, more vulnerable style.
OUR FAVORITE TRACK…
Last Night Together / Insomnia is full of highlights across the board. First and foremost, it brings a very catchy melody to the table from the synth in the beginning, perhaps the most memorable on the album. The arrangement of this track is one part psychedelic, one part modern electronica, one part alt-rock – an unorthodox combination that works surprisingly well, especially when we combine this with the track’s exceedingly well-written lyrics:
“My eyes are lost, staring at the walls
While you’re brewing something warm
This tea tastes like broken dreams
Doesn’t help with comforting me
Will you please give me
All those tiny bits of your love
That might still be wandering inside your heart?”
In short, it’s a perfect summation of everything there is to like about the music that Borer Treetops is capable of creating.
IN CONCLUSION…
This is an excellent showing of growth and artist development from Borer Treetops. On White Pearls, you can clearly see that they are finding their niche and becoming more comfortable creating their brand of insightful electronic music. With heartfelt stories that feel emotional and genuine and a deep understanding of using production to further the message at hand, we’d call White Pearls a bonafide success and deem it worth a listen for any electronic/alternative fan.
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BELOW: Listen to White Pearls 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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