For his official full-length debut, Charlie Yin takes the high-def kitsch honed by James Ferraro on 2011’s highly-influential Far Side Virtual and recontextualizes it into a set of saccharine future bass that is just as well-suited for two millenials spooning or a backyard barbecue or as it is the club. Too Real is mostly led by Yin’s masterful deployment of tiny vocal fragments stretched all over the MIDI keyboard, but little homie Michelle Zauner aka Japanese Breakfast shows up for some heavily pitch-modulated sweet nothings on “Maybes,” while Body Language’s Angelica Bess contributes a seriously catchy vocal for soulful stepper / low-key album standout “Green Tea.” The album’s neo-psychedelic sleeve imagery comes courtesy of Keith Rankin, in-house designer and label boss at Orange Milk Records, which makes perfect since because Yin’s pastiche of finger snaps, Casio basslines and FM synth arpeggios could easily be an Orange Milk release, only with slightly higher pop aspirations. This indie-exclusive pressing on neon orange colored vinyl is limited and includes a code for digital download.

• neon orange colored vinyl
• indie-exclusive
• digital download included
• limited edition
• music label: Counter Records 2017

reviewed by frau farbissina 10/2017