Album review: Lazerbeak – Cameron

Take a moment to find peace with the latest version of Lazerbeak

In his announcement for his new album Cameron, Aaron Mader, known as Lazerbeak, mentions that he wanted “[thread the lines]”Serene, meditative energy with the “crazy and chaotic energy” of her seven year old son Cameron. The whole album carries that serene sense as well as the gentle energy a young child might have, mixed with a sense of youthful optimism. Mader is an artist and producer from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and this is the third instrumental album in a trilogy made for his three children, Luther, Penelope and Cameron.

The first song, “Summer Blockbuster”, sounds like the intro track to this. It starts off with an energetic beat and then turns into a nostalgic track with guitar, some simple sparkling synth sounds, which feels like going to the movies with a bunch of best friends in the summer. Somewhere in the middle, about two and a half minutes away, there are sounds of string lights that evoke the feel of a gentle summer sunrise. It is the quieter part of the room; the whole piece ends with a celebratory grand finale, including most of the instruments used in the piece.

“Layups” has that fun, young, and bright energy. The guitar riff is catchy and bouncy and fun to listen to, much like the beat that starts after. And there is a splendid saxophone solo towards the end of the song that Mader himself was pretty excited.

“Gentle Potential” is on the softer side, capturing the sense of serenity that Mader said he sometimes experiences through his meditation and mindfulness practices. The trumpet parts convey this feeling of “potential”, a hopeful feeling of luminosity produced by the timbre of the instruments themselves. This piece is slow, a much needed break from the hectic nature of life.

The fourth song, “Mighty Fortress”, is a bit more assertive. It is built on an echoing synth pattern, played under guitar and saxophone. The silence break in the middle, about three minutes and 40 seconds, is a very cool way for Lazerbeak to bring the listener back to when he is listening to the piece. The song only ends on the beaten track, gracefully bringing the listener to the end of the listening experience.

Globally, Cameron is a playful reflection of the serene side of Lazerbeak, causing people to stop and remember peaceful moments and meditate on the brighter parts of life in a rapidly changing world.