This is the twenty first century so it is perhaps unreasonable to expect an album of happy songs from anyone and “Death Games” by OWLS duly makes no attempt to walk down a street filled with sunshine and lollipops.
This is, after all, darkwave and, with the sequencer and the synthesiser much to the forefront of his sonic weaponry, OWLS has little problem laying on copious quantities of brooding angst as his once removed from the dancefloor beats lead your ears on a journey down avenues and alleyways that are littered with broken things. Way back in time, such musical melancholy would have been decorated with mascara stained tears and delivered with a near theatrical style – the oldies amongst you will remember Bauhaus – but here the loops and reverb are driven more by introspection than anything else. That makes, to my simple mind at least, “Death Games” an album designed for headphone enjoyment when you can separate yourself from your surroundings and find yourself hypnotised by the rhythm into self-reflection.
Whilst resolutely downbeat and filled with often indecipherable lyrics, “Death Games” does nonetheless show that OWLS can generate a convincing atmosphere with his music. Just plan on wearing black should you decide to take the time to listen.
Available from Bandcamp.