Within And Without

Washed Out is on the verge of becoming world famous

A talented man is talented in everything he does – this expression is really the right one to characterized the almost thirty year old musician named Ernest Greene, known in the Internet and to the public under his stage name Washed Out. Graduating from school and then getting the Master’s degree in Library Science, Green was about to work and go in for his hobby, music, which, however, soon turned out to be his life vocation. Always fond of unusual electronic and danceable music – one of his idols is the Canadian composer and musician Caribou – Ernest did not believe in himself for some time convinced that he would never achieve such a high level in this area. Nevertheless, some years ago he started listening to the 1980s music, other contemporary works and eventually recorded his tracks with his own atmospheric vocals. Then he got married and moved to his native state of Georgia, and it was there in his bedroom where he started recording tracks putting them out on his MySpace page. Compositions Feel it All Around and Belong became hits in no time, the EPs Life Of Leisure and High Times were released, and this year Washed Out is finally releasing his debut studio album Within And Without, a wonderful summery collection which is sure to make its creator famous all around the world.

Magically optimistic music

Some believe that his music creates quite an intimate atmosphere because it is so light, positive and relaxing, others adore dancing to its beats – in any case, Washed Out has never had and will never have indifferent listeners. The musician himself explains his creations’ success with the fact that the pieces are made in a major key and have a distinct verse-chorus structure. Each track is based on beats and samples he takes on various interesting sites or recordings. Musically the debut album is only slightly different from Washed Out’s previous releases. From the very first tracks the critics referred Ernest Greene to the new genre chillwave’s representatives; the term is used to denote an artist’s extensive use of special effects, samples, looping and vocal processing. The tunes filled with joy and hope were accompanied by the lyrics performed by Greene’s own voice or by those of invited vocalists. Naturally, the record Within And Without is the fruit of the same procedures, on which Greene’s search of the best melodic patterns has reached its apogee, and these songs are maximum close to pop music. Paradoxically, the songs are extremely catchy and never make one feel bored, so the album can be played over and over again twenty-four seven, and the listener will remain floating in the clouds of this magically optimistic music’s atmosphere.

An alternative reality on Within And Without

The album Within And Without is not really long for a full-length recording – nine tracks of average length of four-five minutes, all together lasting a bit more than half an hour. The album opens with a romantic composition Eyes Be Closed, very atmospheric, just as every album’s track is, with a soft beat and mesmerizing vocals. A slightly more up-tempo song Echoes features a light keyboard tune and a cosmic beat, Amor Fati combines the elements of the 1980s music that has inspired the artist, and the present days’ electronic flavor. Far Away is perhaps one of the saddest tracks on the entire album with a gentle minor melody and vocals reminding crying. A completely different story is told on Before – high keyboard and processed vocals’ notes picture images of serene childhood and youth. The artist is rendering his idea of love on You and I, while the title track once again sends the listener to travel through the imaginary space or explore the world of one’s own fantasy. Yet the fans are going to find the slow album closer A Dedication the most interesting for one can hear Ernest Greene’s almost real voice on it, though not much of it, accompanied with most beautiful keyboards and expressive special effects. On the whole, the album Within And Without is listened at a breath and is a great way to have some rest from the boring daily routine and spend just some time in an alternative reality.