By Stan Cierlitsky
I couldn't believe it when I got the news. Youth Lagoon were already back with a follow-up to 2023's Heaven is a Junkyard. I was so excited that there wouldn't be a long wait. I have been a fan from the beginning, and had to endure their eight-year hiatus (although we did get a couple of great albums from Trevor as a solo artist). I was really lucky to be able to review the last album, and it was my favorite record of 2023.
Perhaps I shouldn't be so surprised at a new album since Youth Lagoon had already released three songs after Heaven is a Junkyard, even before they announced this new album. All three are included on this new record, titled Rarely Do I Dream, and it is out this Friday on Fat Possum Records. The first song to come out back in 2024 was "Football". I was kind of surprised that it was left off the last record. It's a darkly beautiful song that really fit the vibe of that one. The second track that came out last year was a favorite, "Lucy Takes a Picture". I know there were a couple of moments on Heaven is a Junkyard where I heard influences from The Blue Nile, but on this song those influences are so clearly and gloriously obvious. The third song from 2024 which formed such an incredible trifecta was "My Beautiful Girl", a Track of the Week here. Not only was this one so simple and beautiful, but it was a perfect tease for what was coming. Youth Lagoon haven't been shy about adding samples to their songs. We heard plenty of that on the last full-length offering. Apparently in 2023 Trevor Powers found a box full of home movies in his parent's basement. As he absorbed what he found, he realized it was a "dedication to all the parts of who I was, who I am, and who I'm going to be" as he's stated.
On Rarely Do I Dream, Powers is inviting us in to explore these videos and memories too. The album is sprinkled with deep dives into samples from his life, literally. "Neighborhood Scenes" starts the album with similar beats and vibes to the first half of the last album, but as Powers sings "light it up" you can feel the music growing teeth. The power and grit that you'll hear on this album is the biggest surprise here as far as this reviewer is concerned. Of course, you'll still hear a lot of beautiful piano, and Powers' voice continues to become more and more unleashed as he continues to gain confidence. But as he always does, he starts with the familiar and expands.
The first proper single since the album was announced was "Speed Freak", a song that is dark, gritty, and fairly upbeat. Powers has remarked that "this song came from a thought I had of giving the angel of death a hug." He continues, "the more I learn to die to myself, the more I've learned there is no death. Only transformation." Being a longtime fan, I couldn't agree more that Trevor Powers has always been transforming. From the quiet, beautiful starting point The Year of Hibernation (2011), to the Beatles-esque Wondrous Bughouse (2013), and on to the darker, more industrial solo album Mulberry Violence (2018), there has always been transformation happening. And the leap forward with "Speed Freak" here in 2025 is a great example of his continuing evolution. We haven't really heard anything like this one from him before.
As much as I loved that one, I have to say that "Gumshoe (Dracula from Arkansas)" is probably my favorite track from Rarely Do I Dream. The song has just been featured in a new video this week to highlight the album's release on Friday. The track starts with a perfect drumbeat and more home movie samples. The Vini Reilly-esque guitar is just incredible, and the soaring chorus gives me chills. As much as I love Power's piano playing I would love to hear more of his guitar-work. Speaking of the Vini Reilly guitar sound, I swear the ending to this song reminds me of Vini's playing on Morrissey's "Margaret on the Guillotine", enough so that every time I hear this Youth Lagoon song's end, I imagine the guillotine sound from the Moz classic.
The transformation of Youth Lagoon continues with "Seersucker", another upbeat song with guitar. This one starts slowly with a lovely piano-hook and a great bass-line, then kicks in with jazzy drumbeats, before the guitar comes in later as the song builds. Another highlight of Rarely Do I Dream is "Perfect World" where things get louder and heavier. The amazing juxtaposition of Powers' somewhat frail voice soaring over a noisy backdrop works so well.
There is even more variety on the rest of this new album. Rarely Do I Dream is easily an early favorite for my favorite album this year. Youth Lagoon's return is turning out to be a prolific one, and I'm thankful for that. I will take as much musical output as Powers can muster. Perhaps he can even squeeze in a sequel to Mulberry Violence. Finally, be sure to catch Youth Lagoon at The Atlantis in Washington, D.C. on April 21. I will see you there!
Rarely Do I Dream by Youth Lagoon is released via Fat Possum Records on February 21.
[Photo: Tyler T. Williams]