DRIVER86 is a retrowave producer from Finland. His style leans towards the dreamwave style, a slower, emotional, atmospheric subgenre. Driver86’s music has a very strong nocturnal, romantic, slightly melancholic vibe to it, often feeling like slowly cruising in a car with your lover at night while it’s raining. He has produced both instrumental music and tracks featuring guest vocalists, with some pieces also featuring guest saxophonists. From 2019 onwards he has released a handful of singles and two EPs: True Romance Part 1 and 2, with a planned third and final part of the trilogy coming sometime in the future.

True Romance Pt. 2 sees Driver86 move towards a somewhat more synthetic and vocal-driven direction compared to the first EP. The saxophones are still present but play a slightly less prominent role than on the first EP, and this time around we are treated to two tracks featuring a guest singer. The overall sound is still very laid-back, but also slightly brighter than on the first EP.

The production side of things is perfectly competent for the style, rather minimalistic and definitively on the retro side of retrowave. This sounds for most part music that could have well existed in late 80s. The vocals on the tracks with them are very forward, but the performances are so good that they deserve it. On a purely personal level, I think a more lo-fi approach and really leaning into the late 80s vibe could have worked well. Running this to a cassette and then back could have given the music a bit more texture. But even as this is, it’s a marked improvement production-wise from the first EP.

The aesthetics of the album art lean on well-established retrowave tropes, but are done with taste and are absolutely on point for the music. There’s a car parked amidst mist, impossible to tell quite where exactly, the mist blooming the lights of the environment into a hazy light show. I think it captures the vibe of the album very well.

The album begins with the soft synth strings and heartbeat sample of Heartbeat. Hollow, plucked synths, bright arps and a slow steady beat and bassline come in. A high-pitched synth plays a wistful melody for a while before the song strips away the drums, leaving a mix of plucked synths, bass and synth strings to float. After a while the beat comes back, and this time the track is joined by a saxophone serving as a lead instrument. The sax and synths sketch a romantic mood perfect for seaside evenings before the track ends after a while.

1000 Miles Away opens with an airy up-and-down synth pattern and bass arps. The singing of Jeremy Rowe, the guest vocalist, comes in and the track blossoms to life. Twinkly synths sparkle in the background. Working on an inverted pop formula, the song begins with the chorus. After each chorus the verses strip away some instruments before building up to the chorus again. Jeremy sings of longing after a loved one who feels, as one can gather from the title, “a thousand miles away”. The last verse and chorus feature saxophone. A fantastic cut of soft 90s style pop. Jeremy has a great voice that fits the music very well.

A bass arp that is much heavier than anything before on this album and kick drums serve as the intro to Heat of Love. The track is a bit faster and more energetic, featuring a bouncy synth line that sketches a kind of bittersweet, slightly melancholic mood while the bass and drums keep the pace danceable. The choruses feature a bright lead dancing with the bouncy synth. The track builds up various extra elements along the way, flourishes of twinkling arps and alterations to the bouncy synthline. Eventually the bassline drops out, then the drums, and the track fades out.

Like Crazy begins with bassy synth pads and sweeps of synth strings. The tender singing of Olivia Zulke, the guest vocalist on this track, come in and is then doubled by another vocal track. Drums come in, and Olivia puts a bit more force behind her voice. The track alters between these heavier sections and lighter ones where she sings in a bit more airy, tender way. Her performance and the way the vocals have been layered is top notch, conveying melancholy and pain of a romance that is not working out. The instrumental side of things is very minimal, but for the better as Olivia’s performance is so good.

The album ends with You. Sparse hits of bass synths, swirly synth strings and plucked synths lead to the track. A slow beat comes in, and high-pitched crystalline synthline backs up the plucked synths. Here too, the vibe is of bittersweet melancholy. The track strips down some elements, a different, lower, melody comes in, and the track starts building itself back together. Eventually saxophone comes in, casting a melody over the synths and drums for a while until the track strips down the drums, leaving just the saxophone and the synths before the track ends and with it the EP.

With True Romance Pt. 2, Driver86 has evolved his sound while retaining the identity he established with his first EP. He also has demonstrated skill in choosing guest artists and producing for them, giving enough space for their performances. Dreamwave might be the name of his game, but I think he has the makings of a retro pop producer in him.

I recommend checking out at least 1000 Miles and Like Crazy if you are interested in vocal synth pop. As for the EP as a whole, fans of dreamwave, those looking for something laid-back for the coming autumn and those who remain true romantics at heart will enjoy this EP.

For more DRIVER86, visit driver86.bandcamp.com

DRIVER86 - True Romance, Pt. 2

IRVING FORCE - Sedatives

US3R - Colors