I became a casual fan of Gus Dapperton a few months ago when I started listening to more dream and bedroom pop music. He’s a unique artist in the genre with an interesting vocal tone and a tendency to lean towards ambient, electronic production. His 2019 album “Where Polly People Go to Read” is a fuzzy listen that contains some great songs — most notably “My Favorite Fish,” “Fill Me Up Anthem” and “Nomadicon.” I thoroughly enjoyed his style, but the majority of his songs, I end up forgetting about.
I’m happy I didn’t end up writing him off, though. His latest songs are anything but forgettable. In April, Gus Dapperton released “First Aid,” the first taste of his upcoming album “Orca,” which was released Sept. 18. When I first heard it, it was immediately my favorite song by him. It’s a gorgeous, somber track that’s very unlike Gus Dapperton’s previous releases. I could hear him going in a more emotional direction and it sounded great on him.
The next single, “Post Humourous,” did not disappoint either. Quite the contrary; it topped “First Aid” for me after the first listen, which was no easy feat. Similarly to “First Aid,” it’s a beautiful song with sad undertones. It starts off in a dejected tone, but quickly picks up with the help of a happy, twinkling guitar. Its nostalgic, euphoric chorus is probably the best his discography has to offer.
Dapperton also released “Medicine,” a journey of a song, which contains a dramatic crescendo as it approaches the final chorus. It is an attention-grabbing, personal and well-written chorus. I flip flop between this song and “Post Humourous” in regards to which I like more, but they’re both so excellent that it doesn’t really matter. I will say “Post Humourous” is more of a casual listen while “Medicine” will pull at your heartstrings with no mercy.
Earlier this month, Dapperton dropped “Bluebird,” the last single before the release of his full album. Somehow, it’s also a smashing listen. It’s the most relaxed, smile-inducing single of the bunch. It’s definitely a song you can play at any time during any mood and vibe out. I will say that the lyrics are a tad difficult to discern, but it isn’t too much of a bother.
I love all four of his latest releases more than I ever thought I would. If they’re an accurate representation of “Orca,” you shouldn’t miss out on this album. Be sure to check it out wherever you stream music.
