By Angela Espinoza, Arts Editor
4/5
Chazwick Bundick, better known as electronic musician Toro y Moi, released his third album Anything in Return on January 22. Overflowing with synth-filled melodies and many a chillwave moments, Anything in Return is anything but disappointing.
The album on the whole creates a very relaxed, café-like mood on every listen. There is the occasional track that presents feelings of unrequited love, but the lyrics fail to take away from the album’s otherwise positive sounds.
Partway through its 13 tracks, the music starts to pick up in a way that eliminates any previous moments of feeling a bit too calm. The beats and in turn the vocals peak, making every track from “Studies” and on feel significantly more alive.
Standout tracks from the album include single “So Many Details,” the back-to-back team of “Studies” and “High Living,” and my personal favourite, “Cake.” “Cake” does differ from the rest of the album in that it comes off a little less chillwave and a little more R&B, but it nonetheless fits in nicely with the rest of the album, serving as one of several highlights rather than a single outstanding moment.
Anything in Return offers a near-hour of downtime fun for any listener, and at its least, serves as some excellent reading music.