Release Date: 10 March 2023
Song Count: 10
Duration: 41 minutes, 33 seconds
Rating: 7.1/10
Description:
Feels good to be back in proper synthwave territory again! It's been a while.
From Boston, Massachusetts, a producer by the name of Mike Langlie, better known as Cat Temper, has been in the synthwave seen making music since 2019, with numerous works already under his belt - an impressive feat, given the comparatively shorter time length of activity so far. As one may guess by the cover arts and general branding of the project, every song here is titled around cats and cat-related puns, which is a neat gimmick, and the one album out of many we're bringing in the magnifying glass on, Furio, is no different in that aspect. Though the album disappointedly doesn't greet us with remixed cat noises or anything else of the sort, it regardless has some interesting music to offer.
A combination of synth-pop, other genres of electronic dance music that go along with that sort of sound palette relatively well, such as Disco and Electro, and even influences of video game music at times, Furio has an assortment of highly electric and digital-sounding tracks to nod along to that are both easy to mentally digest and built by melodies and elements unique enough to lead the listener to wonder where any given track will head to next. The equally digital percussions, though both present and defining of the groove, are simultaneously reclined in volume as to give the overall sound a more laid-back feel and let the synths, sawtooth waves, keys and other instruments take centre stage in the composition. Particular songs, in the way they are structured and mixed, call back to older electronic music and their style as well, whilst polishing the sound to a more modernised version of itself, making the music feel practically timeless.
Though far from mind-blowing in terms of quality, Furio's danceable tracks nevertheless lead to an enjoyable time listening and have plenty of charm to appeal to many tastes, regardless of if one prefers older sorts of beats or leans towards listening to newer songs of the genre. Perhaps more energetic than the average synthwave album yet still faithful to the style's elements, it emerges as a successful collection of songs to uplift one's mood or blast at a car ride at night. Most definitely a solid work from a purr-missing artist by the likes of Cat Temper. No kitty-ng.
(...yeah, I'm not nearly as good with cat puns.)