Stilz has opened a literal portal to the stars with “Hyperspace Drifter 3” – the third and final monumental installment in his “Hyperspace Drifter” spacewave trilogy! This release is Stilz at his best with a dreamy, sophisticated, awe-inducing, and groovy atmosphere seamlessly blended with the signature Stilz sound.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Stilz began producing music in the early 00’s, mainly focusing on hip-hop. Then, in 2013 he made the switch to synthwave. His very first Bandcamp release was actually the first installment of “Hyperspace Drifter” back in 2014. (And his later album Judicator one of the first I reviewed for NRW!)
So much has changed since then – including the level of production from Stilz. While his albums have always been good, the past handful of his releases have begun to widen his sound with the addition of a more ambient, full bodied aesthetic and a sharper focus on production. This laser-polished feel is adamantly from the very first moments of “Hyperspace Drifter 3,” quite possibly his most refined sound yet.
An inspired mix of dreamwave, spacewave, and a hint of synthpop, this release also feels a bit more down-tempo than Stilz usual sound. The driving, intense darksynth and cyberpunk motifs have morphed into more of a feeling of dream-like awe and grandiosity. The tracks that are more upbeat have a certain groove and panache, almost bringing to mind a Com Truise-esque instant-classic vibe.
The best part of about the sound on this album is that in spite of ramping up the dreamwave and spacewave tonalities, this sound is still uniquely Stilz. With this caliber of work, we can’t wait to see what he produces next!
Top tracks: “Wavelength,” “Construct,” “Look Beyond,” and “Hyperspace Drifter 3”
Check out the full album here!
https://soundcloud.com/stilzyyc/hyperspace-drifter-3
