Birthed by ex-choirboy, Pat Grossi, and his harp, You Are All I See is Active Child’s debut album under Vagrant Records. The hypnotic glo-fi sound heard in the album makes comparisons to newer Washed Out and Small Black very tempting, as well as references to the dream pop noise of M83. However, underneath the name-dropping allusions, Active Child’s unique element is found in the layered falsetto harmonies and dreamy cascading strings.

In the rise of “chill wave” and hazy synths, Active Child risks his music being just another set of mp3 downloads in the sea of post-production sounds. However, there is a lot more going on within the album to make it worth multiple listens. The collaboration with ethereal r&b artist Tom Krell aka How To Dress Well on the track “Playing House” has gained attention and play. It’s a venture outside the genre of the rest of the album, providing more of a soulful sound, but it complements the other tracks effortlessly, saving the album from the risk of homogeneity.

The tracks after contain more choppy synthetic sounds, anticipatory percussion, and experimentation with the harp–allowing it to dominate alongside vocals on some (Hanging On; Ivy; Johnny Belinda), as well as functioning more as an accent on others (Way Too Fast; Ancient Eye; Shield & Sword).

You Are All I See is a collection of bold journeys into synthetic noises and strings, with Grossi’s falsetto helping light the path. While no two tracks sound the same, and there is plenty of experimentation, it never strays too far from the unifying concept of exploration and catharsis.

Final Words: The album is a natural soundtrack for anything; let it play.