8/10

Kramies’ 'Goodbye Dreampop Troubadour' arrives as both a farewell and a reawakening, shedding the title that defined him while diving deeper into the spectral, otherworldly textures that have become his signature. The album is a masterclass in "folklore dreampop", a genre of his own making, blending dreamlike atmospheres, poetic myth, and subtle, almost eerie beauty. Across its runtime, we are transported into a world that feels simultaneously intimate and immense, offering a twilight space where memory, fantasy, and emotion converge.

Produced in collaboration with Grammy-winning producer Mario McNulty, the record is a study in controlled wonder. From the opening notes of 'Perfectly Dreadful', lush, hazy soundscapes unfurl, layered with soft, spectral instrumentation. Kramies’ ethereal yet tangible voice serves as both guide and companion, delivering narratives that feel like whispered stories in a candlelit forest. Tracks like 'Social Light' and 'Hollywood Signs' move effortlessly between gentle, stirring lullabies and subtle tension, creating a rhythm brimming with emotional pulse.

What sets 'Goodbye Dreampop Troubadour' apart is the balance it strikes between enchantment and emotional resonance. The melodies are undeniably cinematic, yet grounded in a profoundly human core. Nostalgia and melancholy thread through each song, giving weight to the ethereal arrangements without ever tipping into indulgence. There’s an intimacy here, a sense that Kramies is inviting us into a shared reverie, delivering an exploration of longing, wonder, and quiet reflection.

For fans of ethereal, boundary-pushing pop and music that thrives in the liminal spaces between dream and reality, this album represents Kramies at his most assured and imaginative. 'Goodbye Dreampop Troubadour' is a reminder that the twilight hours, both literal and metaphorical, are fertile ground for storytelling, and that Kramies remains a master of conjuring worlds both haunting and tender.