A Home Video in Flames: The Sounds of Nostalgia and Decay
Perhaps one of the most difficult experiences in life is the simple act of growing up. With the power of reminiscing comes the responsibility of reflection, and in turn, we are met with an all-too-familiar sense of loss. The loss of what we once had as children, perhaps the loss of what could have been, or most devastatingly, the loss of what we should have had entirely. Regardless, early adulthood grants us the ability to look back on our childhoods without nostalgia’s rosy tint, allowing us to do something once thought impossible- understand and empathize with our past in all of its beauty and ugliness.
Canadian synth-laden emo act idialedyournumber captures this complex emotion with excruciating precision in their newest album, Mourning Glow. Thematically framed as a home video viewing experience, the album presents the past caught on tape- validating the joy of early childhood while simultaneously exposing the reality of the environment in which we were raised. The first and last tracks, Authenticating… and Deactivating…, bookend the album with the nostalgic hum of VHS playback, grounding you the listener in a space of memory and reflection, while the middle section serves as chapters in our growth and understanding of how we were raised and how that affects our lives to this day.
Personal Favorite Tracks from Mourning Glow:
I Found A Pulse!
The second track on the album, but the first fully composed song following the intro, I Found A Pulse! is a warm welcome back to the signature idialedyournumber sound that fans fell in love with in 2023. The song bursts in with a punchy synth chop before settling into a dynamic interplay of vocals and classic emo guitar instrumentation. As it builds toward the pre-chorus, lead singer Jessie’s signature blown-out vocal style emerges, culminating in a simple yet beautiful chorus that perfectly encapsulates the band’s unique energy.
6:00 am
The third track and perhaps the quintessential idialedyournumber song on the album. It embodies everything fans have come to love about their music—soft Midwest emo guitar riffs, pounding drums with crashing cymbals, chugging distortion, chiptune arpeggios, and of course, washed-out skramz vocals. More than just a showcase of their signature style, this track exemplifies the band’s growth in production and mixing. Every element finds its place in the mix, each instrument audible yet never overpowering. Even the faint glockenspiel in the first chorus subtly enhances the track’s delicate undertones, demonstrating a newfound attention to sonic detail.
Her Name Is Beautiful
The seventh track is one of the most stripped-down tracks on the album, featuring only guitars, vocals, and harmonies. Yet, within this simplicity lies its power. The song’s true weight is carried in its lyrics- a love letter of sorts, grappling with the painful realization that one cannot always give as much as they wish. Whether directed toward a lover, a friend, a sibling, or even a younger version of themselves, Jessie’s soft vocals and layered harmonies poetically capture a moment of unspoken love and hesitation, the yearning to grow, and the aching attachment to what once was.
“You never left my pupil but I sunk to your throat”
Motherhood
The penultimate track- and arguably the emotional climax of the album. Motherhood is another stripped back track compared to the rest of the record, serving as a grounding moment before the project’s conclusion. The ever-present VHS fuzz, typically buried within other tracks, becomes more pronounced here, signifying both the decay of the album’s sonic world and the fading bond of family and memory of childhood. A warped synth lead hovers in the opening, further reinforcing the theme of deterioration. The lyrics reflect on finding solace in the destruction of the past, while embracing the possibility of building something new.
“Why should it matter that it took everything?
A new family is born today
And not an inch of me is grieving”
Final Thoughts
For fans of their debut album, Mourning Glow is a deeply rewarding listen. It showcases immense growth and maturity- both thematically and musically. From style and lyrics to instrumentation, production, and mixing, every element of the album reflects a refined and intentional artistic direction. While their freshman release, Hourglass, had an endearing rawness and spontaneity, Mourning Glow invites listeners to fully digest its layered compositions, ensuring that every lyric resonates while two-stepping through the emotional turbulence.
A young artist still in the early stages of their career, idialedyournumber crafts a unique and captivating sound that few others replicate. Their sonic palette draws comparisons to other genre innovators- such as Montana-based synth-emo group Hey, Ily, who makes an appearance on Track 8, Linen Shroud– while maintaining a fresh and forward-thinking approach to a well-established genre. With Mourning Glow, idialedyournumber not only delivers but promises even greater things to come. And I, for one, cannot wait to hear what’s on the horizon.
Mourning Glow releases this Friday, March 14th.
Pre save at: https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/4Xc4odsmaVFqxya3D7ZVZU?si=816dc12584cb496e