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After extensive promotion on social media and a short postponement Glass Animals have released their new album, Dreamland, the follow-up to their excellent 2016 release How To Be A Human Being. Known for their genre-defying sound and unpredictable lyrics, Glass Animals have enjoyed global success in recent years, and have become one of the most prominent acts in alternative music. Dreamland, produced largely within the confines of the Covid-19 lockdown, is their most autobiographical album yet. Filled with personal anecdotes and childhood memories, Dreamland is a lyrical departure from their previous albums, but retains their rich and intricate production.
As its title implies, Dreamland is a deeply atmospheric record, featuring a psychedelic soundscape and hypnotic hooks. The album’s lead single ‘Your Love (Dèjá Vu)’ is a pumping sex anthem, as lead singer Dave Bayley’s smooth vocals convey a sense of lust and longing: “Night by night, I let you eat me alive / I want you to eat me alive.” The production on the track is reminiscent of ‘Life Itself’, one of my favourites from Glass Animals’ last album, How To Be A Human Being. ‘Tangerine’ and ‘Heat Waves’ are just as successful. The infectious choruses and energetic delivery of these tracks create the perfect summertime soundtrack. ‘Space Ghost Coast to Coast’, however, is the true highlight of Dreamland. The futuristic vocal reverbs, relentless beats and combative lyrics make this track one of Glass Animals’ very best.
Childhood nostalgia is a prominent theme on Dreamland. Audio clips from the band’s home movies are scattered throughout the album, including the sounds of a gleeful child and cooing mother interspersed between the songs. ‘Waterfalls Coming Out of Your Mouth’ is filled with childhood references, as Bayley cites Scooby Doo, Push Pops, and Fruit Loops while reflecting on past romances. Dreamland is also unafraid to address the darker side of childhood. On ‘Domestic Bliss’, Bayley sings about a childhood friend’s mother who was caught up in an abusive relationship: “I see the bruise, I see the truth / I see what he been doin’ to you.” Not every story in Dreamland will be immediately apparent to the listener, but do some digging and there is a lot to be unearthed.
However, Dreamland is not a perfect release. Overall, it lacks some of the kooky production that made Glass Animals’ older music stand out from the crowd. Their debut album ZABA incorporated a wide range of ambient jungle sounds, while How To Be A Human Being featured retro video game effects and jarring vocal performances. By comparison, Dreamland is a much more straightforward, synthesiser-driven affair. Additionally, ‘Tokyo Drifting’, featuring Denzel Curry, is notably out of place on the record. The R&B elements of the track feel lost on Dreamland, which otherwise maintains a cohesive, mellow sound. Its inclusion is especially unwarranted, as it was originally released as a stand-alone single and part of their ‘Fresh Fruit’ collaborations series.
Glass Animals have gone all-out in promoting Dreamland, having created several audio-visual experiences for fans to enjoy. On Spotify, each song is accompanied by a trippy, looping video that spans your entire phone screen. Shortly after the release, Glass Animals hosted a virtual listening party on YouTube, where fans could enjoy a full visual version of the album comprised of tour footage and home videos. I’m impressed with the band’s commitment to creating a multimedia experience for Dreamland, especially given the production challenges posed by the current global pandemic.
Dreamland is a worthy addition to Glass Animals’ discography and is sure to go down well with long-time fans and newcomers alike. As 2020 continues to be a year of global disruption, Glass Animals have produced a welcome reprieve from the chaos, inviting the listener to abandon some of the trials of adult life and reconnect with their childhood.
