We previously explored the depths of William McLaughlin’s Better, which was a psychedelic, dark wave fusion of brooding vocals, avant-garde soundscapes, and guitar mastery, so when we heard that the talented artist was back with Dragon Hentai Tears, we couldn’t wait to immerse ourselves in his universe once again.
Dragon Hentai Tears opens with a meditative yet cerebral rising energy expanding into a super dimensional vocal-synth vibe with a high spiritual quotient. We immediately feel like we have been transported to another realm.
The dynamics of the production are almost ritualistic, a roaring dragon moment with spoken word ad-libs keep us enthralled, whilst the production switch-ups are sonically sublime. There is a definite cinematic allure to the track, perfect for a movie like Luc Besson‘s Lucy, or Limitless. It is also a great fit for a festival like Secret Garden Party or a set at Tomorrowland.
The track feels empowering, trippy and cohesively psychedelic with William’s wider offering. The middle eight provides a meditative respite with a spoken word epilogue that invites introspection. Speaking on the release, William says, “I hope to excite, shock and give comedic energy to the listeners with something they have NEVER HEARD BEFORE…..”
Dragon Hentai Tears definitely offers this. It is highly unique and mesmerizing, we love the tribal notions that manifest with the beat towards the end of the track and could also imagine the track being featured in the new Airbender movie.
He also shares, “There are no instruments. Only recorded, altered, modified vocals based on a BPM. I promise you will not be bored.” This truly demonstrates innovation at its finest. The final seconds of the song appear to be a recording of an in-studio discussion which is ironic, because the track is literally so epic, so there is definitely something “worth working with!”
Needless to say, our minds are blown, and we will be adding Dragon Hentai Tears to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TRIPPY playlist, as soon as it lands on Spotify! In the meantime, we continue to stream the wider discography of William McLaughlin, including Better.