REVIEW

The second album from Los Angeles–based producer/musician Max Epstein’s project Photographic Memory.

Released via US indie label deadAir Records, Photographic Memory has been active under this name since 2013, while Epstein has contributed to recordings and live support for Quannnic, Militarie Gun, and Cold War Kids. He has also been involved in Wisp’s Pandra era, supporting the If Not Winter tour and collaborating onstage, showcasing his versatility across projects.

Early work centered on dreamy bedroom pop and dream pop, but this album expands into emo-rap, indie electronica, and Nu-Gaze, demonstrating a wide-ranging sonic palette. Notable tracks include #8 “Clearly,” a refreshing electro-pop number reminiscent of Porter Robinson; #10 “Born 7:7 (feat. Darcy Baylis),” where ethereal electronica merges seamlessly with heavy shoegaze; #11 “Heartstyle (feat. Wisp),” a synth-laden, danceable track revealing a new side of Wisp; #12 “Love In My Heart,” a heavy instrumental drawing on nu-metal and grunge, with aggressive guitar tones echoing Korn and Alice in Chains; and #17 “Spill (feat. Kraus),” a melancholic heavy shoegaze highlight featuring thick guitar walls and soft vocals, showcasing Kraus’ signature touch.

Polished through his production experience, this album reflects Epstein’s cross-genre fluency. As a next-generation shoegaze artist, his work alongside Wisp marks him as one to watch.