‘New Face‘ is the stunning debut album from Vienna based multi-instrumentalist Dreamer Dreamer (also know as Hannes Pröstler). The album is firmly rooted in ’90s alternative rock, with shoegaze and pop-punk influences throughout.
The DIY ethic of the nine-track album shines through with the raw and gritty feel. Besides the drums, Hannes Pröstler is responsible for every note on the album giving it an intimate feel that opens a vulnerable and delicate side to the album. The opening track ‘Lullaby’ is a gentle yet haunting track that lures you into the reflective journey of the album, before the heavy hitting ‘Reveal’ gives you a taste of what to expect. ‘Echo’ channel the gritty energy of grunge, blending distorted guitars with introspective lyrics, while ‘Traces’ leans more into shoegaze’s dreamlike haze.
‘Diving’ is a powerful ending to ‘New Face‘, bringing together all the elements used throughout the album and implementing them into one song. The song begins with a soft intro, before building into a hard hitting anthem with guitar solos that bring the song to another level. It feels like breaking free from the weight of the emotional baggage, an apt metaphor for the album’s overarching theme of renewal.
What makes ‘New Face‘ really stand out is the blend between the obvious ’90s influence, but still blending modern production and sounds to breathe a new life into the songs. Dreamer Dreamer deliver a heartfelt and cathartic album, wrapped up in the catchiness of pop-punk and the nostalgia of ’90s alternative rock.
