PLZ Make It Ruins presents a collection of unreleased recordings from the artist Memo Boy, the high school-era pseudonym of Brooklyn musician Otto Benson (OTTO).
Totaling thirty-three tracks, it is a selection of demos and collaborations with internet friends facilitated over Facebook Messenger, that highlights Memo Boy's particularly hazy brand of lo-fi bedroom pop, as well as forays into experimental braindance electronica and many happy avenues in between the two. Seemingly existing in an idly imagined internet-centric universe, there’s plenty of moments of melodic joy along the way, with a child-like fascination and curious energy guiding this loosely compiled collection of tracks.
Tracks like ‘Nosferatu Cosplay Party’ feel like a particularly happy meeting between early years Toro Y Moi and Arthur Russell distilled into an instrumental. Elsewhere there’s shoegaze-y, tape hiss filled guitar-led tracks such as ‘I Do What He Say I Do’ and ‘Bucket’, sounding like DIY takes of the likes of Yo La Tengo.
There are a few notable club odes in there too, such as ‘Hallofrau’ and ‘I’m Having a Rave in my Bedroom All By Myself’ - providing melancholy, outsider reimaginings of dance floors that feel very relatable, particularly during the Covid era.
Songs & Demos 2015-2017 is an accomplished display of raw talent from this multifaceted producer set for a bright future, taking in a heady mix of influences and genres throughout the expansive tracklist.
