You won’t find much information about NYC-based ambient artist Days of Blue Skies online. Though the mysterious experimental artist does have some social media accounts, I couldn’t find much in the way of an artist bio.
Despite this lack of information, Days of Blue Skies released a gorgeous ambient instrumental album on March 1st via Geometric Lullaby called As The Days Go By. The record consists of nine relaxing tracks that could be described as vaporwave, slushwave, experimental, or many other genre tags.
Geometric Lullaby is a Pittsburgh-based vaporwave record label, and As The Days Go By got the vinyl treatment, along with some beautiful cover art. You can also purchase Days of Blue Skies’ discography on Bandcamp for an incredibly low price, which I suggest you consider.
What is vaporwave? I’m glad you asked. It’s a genre of electronic music that emerged in the early 2010s and is, apparently, still going strong for some artists. Vaporwave is characterized by its heavy use of sampling and manipulation of source material, including Eighties and Nineties pop, smooth jazz, elevator music, and other forms of muzak. Visually, vaporwave is associated with retro-futuristic aesthetics, featuring imagery like early computer graphics, neon lights, and other nostalgic or kitschy elements. Often, vaporwave explores themes of capitalism, consumerism, nostalgia, and the internet age.
I don’t listen to a ton of vaporwave, but I was fascinated by the cover art of As The Days Go By while searching for ambient and experimental music. It goes to show how cover art can be such an influential factor. The neon dreamscapes on tracks like “If Only Today Lasted Forever” unfold with cascading smooth noises that sound entirely new yet hauntingly familiar. I guess that’s the nostalgia part, eh?
“Night Drive” evokes the neon-lit skylines of a bygone era, woven from the remnants of half-remembered echoes, as we relax into the warm embrace of a synth pad. Time stands still in “West to East,” a hazy realm where the track floats effortlessly amidst a sea of electronic noise. On the last track – “Soft Moonlight” – we take a late-night drive through the deserted streets, with the soft glow of the streetlights reflecting off the rain-slicked pavement. We have achieved the perfect buzz as the music washes over us, and the feelings of longing and nostalgia linger long after the song fades.
Psychedelic fans looking for something different should enjoy As The Days Go By by Days of Blue Skies, an expansive album that journeys through the neon-lit corridors of the mind. If you’re looking for more vaporwave bliss, check out the other selections from Geometric Lullaby, whose mantra is a “collection of songs about life and death.” Enjoy!
Check out As The Days Go By by Days of Blue Skies on Bandcamp here.
Support Days of Blue Skies by finding them on Bandcamp, Soundcloud, or social media (Twitter, Instagram).
Support Geometric Lullaby by finding them on Bandcamp or social media (Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook).
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