“SLOWER AVENUE is a Saigon-based DARK WAVE/SYNTH POP duo with members from Spain and the US. Slower Avenue brings a beautiful, melancholic sound that sparkles with texture and warms the soul, providing both a comfortable nostalgia and vibrant desire for those deeply pleasurable and pensive moments in life.”
I recently came across an intriguing bio on the YouTube channel of this band. Initially, I was puzzled by the fact that they are based in Vietnam, as indicated on their Bandcamp page, but everything makes sense now. It’s interesting to note that I haven’t featured a band from Vietnam on our blog in quite some time, yet I’ve been immersing myself in the works of Vietnamese authors and finding immense enjoyment in doing so. Additionally, I had the pleasure of witnessing the exceptional Czech-Vietnamese cloud rapper Anki at a festival two weeks ago, and I was completely captivated by the experience.
Lately, I’ve been delving deeper into the post-punk genre, which isn’t something I’d typically listen to, but I’m making a conscious effort to broaden my musical horizons. This particular song reminds me of bands like New Order or The Cure, especially in terms of the vocals. While the track undeniably possesses dream pop or synth-pop qualities, I’m particularly drawn to the bass line. According to the band, the song is driven by an insistent Bass VI riff, complemented by ethereal synths, chiming guitars, a unique vocal melody, and lyrics rooted in hope and optimism. I’ve found immense joy in this song and eagerly anticipate hearing more from this band, hailing from a country and music scene that I’m keen to explore further.
Written by Filip Zemcik
