Dawn Golden
Still Life
Release Date: May 13, 2014
Genre(s): Pop/Rock
Record label: Downtown
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Album Review: Still Life by Dawn Golden
Fairly Good, Based on 4 Critics
Based on rating 4
Between his über-busy day job as frontman of Chicago band Houses, Dexter Tortoriello has finally managed to cobble together a debut LP as his producer alter-ego, Dawn Golden, entitled Still Life. Formerly known as Dawn Golden and Rosy Cross, Tortoriello has spent the past three years slowly chiselling the marble at Diplo‘s studio, carefully buffing and polishing his musical identity in the morsels of spare time. Evidently a labour of love – why else would you spend so much time slaving away in your precious free hours? – Tortoriello’s opening gambit as Dawn Golden sees him embrace the Sandman-producer aesthetic, dabble in blissed-out dream-pop and chill harder than a penguin on valium.
Based on rating 7/10
As one half of dream pop duo Houses, producer/songwriter Dexter Tortoriello co-created lush and often haunting tracks with his creative partner, Megan Messina. The pair's songs often employed electronic elements, but retained a certain organic feel even in their most programmed moments. Working alone as Dawn Golden, Tortoriello doesn't stray completely from the hushed, heavy tones of Houses, but presents his tunes with a far more stark, minimally electronic approach.
Based on rating 6/10
Dawn Golden is a project by producer/songwriter Dexter Tortoriello, who is better known for being part of the dream-pop duo Houses. His debut album as Dawn Golden, the name of which was originally Dawn Golden and Rosy Cross, took more than three years to make, with Tortoriello crafting it in between his other regular gig. It was recorded in Diplo’s Mad Decent studios, as well.
Based on rating 5/10
Head here to submit your own review of this album. Sometimes an album titles speak volumes. Is there still life after you've heard this album? Did your life stand still as you were rocked by emotionally charged synthesised rhythms and vocals? Is it a comment on the nature of art? Still Life artistry has become increasingly computer-driven in recent years; does the digitised composition of the release parody this shift as it portrays 'real life' in a paradoxically artificial 'Still Life'? The album is a bit like that sentence...
'Still Life'
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