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Live Review: FEATURE ARTIST: Youth Lagoon

17 April 2012 | 4:00 pm | Staff Writer

We feature 22 year Idaho native Trevor Powers; the brainchild behind the reverb drenched bedroom pop project Youth Lagoon

Trevor Powers is the kind of name that probably brings to mind someone involved in an exotic vocation like porn-star or suave international spy not 22 year old student residing in Boise, (pronounced boy-see) Idaho. If however, for said student, writing and performing reverb drenched bedroom pop is your not-so-secret talent then the guise YOUTH LAGOON sounds pretty much perfect.

Having casually meandered into indie consciousness midway through 2011 with debut The Year of Hibernation, Trevor Powers A.K.A YOUTH LAGOON very quickly charmed his way into many a music lover's year end best-of lists with a collection of deep-seated confessions served as pop songs. The signature slow build and release of these songs draws parallel's to the therapy Powers had been undertaking for some self-confessed issues with anxiety. That was until he decided writing the Year of Hibernation would be a more affordable alternative to professional help.

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Having been down that path the carry over effect could be seen as each track playing out like it's own session on the couch, beginning warily and a little unsure of itself but gradually growing in confidence, sonic layers being added like incremental steps toward emotional vulnerability.  The result is songs like 'July' and 'Montana' which steadily grow in conviction like a snowball gaining speed and size down a mountain.  The eventual avalanche of a crescendo thunders through the speakers like a joyous exorcism of inner demons.

YOUTH LAGOON represents, at least on this initial outing, a vehicle for dealing with personal turmoil which gives this material a heart-breaking sincerity. Coming from someone not far beyond the legal drinking age in his home nation there's no escaping the youthful filter on the lens of these songs, it's part of the appeal, but at the same time there's a maturity in the way these memories are being re-interpreted as a young adult.  We're being transported inside the mind of someone still in the stages of mapping out their own identity, searching for clues among childhood experiences.  These lyrics aren't coming from someone basking in the glow of the good old days, more like someone looking back over their shoulder for final reassurances as they make off down the road ahead.

While the weighty subject matter may sound like heavy going on paper the knack for melody on display here makes it anything but.  These are gorgeously affecting pop songs delivered by keyboards, electronic drum claps and guitar riffs with hooks so appetisingly baited they could reel in a Great White.  The outro guitar line on 'Cannons' will in some way exit your body like an electric charge the only question being whether it be via foot waggle or finger tap.

In February of this year YOUTH LAGOON made a flying visit to our shores for a couple of well received shows in Sydney and Melbourne, the latter of which I was fortunate enough to witness personally.  The intimacy of the live performance was heightened by Powers on keyboard and his close friend Logan Hyde on guitar as the lone participants.  On record Powers voice for the most part takes a back seat, often muffled or drowned in echo that makes it sound as if it's coming from another room but on stage it boldly and deservedly sits front and centre, pulled from his sleeve like a sneaky ace.  No longer hiding, it completely encompasses the venue space and every little strained imperfection serves to remind you of the endearingly honest place it's coming from.

It's a sign of the times that the musings of a soft-spoken young guy in Idaho can reach the indie masses so easily but it's the fact they resonate so deeply with us that speaks volumes for the talent behind YOUTH LAGOON.

Words by Brad Davies