SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BEDSTUDY – DOT WAVE EP

Bedstudy
Dot Wave EP
Grand Jury Music

Dot Wave EP is the first project from Brooklyn trio, Bedstudy, who are looking to make modern electro-R&B with an indie-pop flare. The group has previously made some waves with the music video for ‘Ø (Arms Away)’, which tackles violence against trans people.

Bedstudy’s activism makes sense, since their sound borrows heavily from queer culture, incorporating elements of electronic music.

Dot Wave EP is a memorable entry of modern R&B, imbued with sounds of The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, and some nostalgic New Jack swing thrown in.

“Page^”, the album opener, is about a relationship that has become stagnant and the frustration that comes from it.

The best track is “S_M00n” or “Super Moon”, as Baldwin croons about the thrill of chasing after a romantic conquest. The harmonizing is reminiscent of New Jack swing with modern production techniques like digital reverb accentuating a new-school feel.

The EP is promising as Bedstudy blends different elements really well, resulting in sleek-sounding R&B, but there’s nothing terribly original about their sound. “D3n1m Is the Vibe” sounds like a Channel Orange throw-away. Everything from the song’s subject matter to its rhythmic structure to the timbre of Baldwin’s voice sounds like a Frank Ocean imitation.

Overall it’s a solid effort but lacks in originality.

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