TOURISTS FROM THE FUTURE
Album Review
Las Vegas based producer Ryan Lofty seemed to burst onto the scene with his airy style of future synth pop, promoting nothing but good vibes. His debut album was just released and if you’re craving warm weather, this is the launching point you’ve been looking for this season. Titled Tourists from the Future, there’s certainly a distinctly spacey thread running through the entirety of the album, but it’s still decidedly tropical. The album eases in with a track appropriately titled “The Landing.” Its Glitch Mob type epic feeling serves as the perfect gateway into the cosmic pool party that ensues. Songs like “We Are” and “Beyond the Moon” promote the positive energy with silky vocals and bouncy synth disco. Then you also have slower cuts like “The Mothership” and “Zzyzx” to round out the high points with more ballad-style tracks. Let’s not forget to mention Lofty’s own vocals appearing on “Transmissions.” “Dimensions” is an obvious favorite on the album, with its sugar sweet pop melodies and infectious melodies. Singer Casey Abrams has these dusty vocals that complement Lofty’s production perfectly. It’s hard not to fall in love with lyrics like “I’ve been wasting time looking up at the moon, wondering if you we’re looking up at it too.” How cute is that? Lots of friends appear on Lofty’s album including Bonx, Bestfriends, and Gary Fowler. Another standout track features vocals from Ted Wendler of LA’s Mansions on the Moon. More of a rock style electronic ballad, “Ride On” has a different feel from the rest of the album. The emotive lyrical approach makes for a lovely result. Lofty has put together a mix showing off most of his debut full-length, but be sure to check out all the individual streaming tracks on Spotify. Also, be sure to catch Ryan Lofty at his SXSW, Beyond Wonderland, and FlyOver Fashion Festival shows.