The Arcs - Keep on Dreaming | Single Review
March 17 | Written By Calvin Phang
On the 13th of October 2022, The Arcs released their lead single Keep on Dreamin’ off their second album Electrophonic Chronic. The Arcs is an American garage rock band formed by Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach in 2015. Electrophonic Chronic is an exciting project that features The Arcs’ original line-up of Auerbach, Leon Michel, Homer Steinweiss, Nick Movshon and the late Richard Swift. It is the band’s first album in eight years and first outing since the passing of Swift in 2018. The album follows the band’s 2015 debut LP Yours, Dreamily and the studio album was subsequently released on the 27th of January 2023. The interlude between The Arcs outings stemmed from the loss of Swift, which left the band unable to face ‘the music’ and in stagnation. Fortunately, the band ultimately finished the album in Swift’s memory as it features material that was worked on together in a bittersweet tribute.
The album was recorded between Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound Studio in Nashville, Michel’s Diamond Mine Studio and New York’s Electric Lady Studios. According to Auerbach, getting into a studio and producing music is The Arcs favourite thing to do regardless of the time and location. He further added that the group bonded instantaneously through the fun of jamming and producing music, citing it as an amazing time.
Keep on Dreamin’ features an animated music video produced by Robert “Roboshobo” Schober and visual artist El Oms who also created the cover art. The music video animates the original line-up of The Arcs in a psychedelic world, with the late Swift even appearing on the drums. Auerbach’s artistic and experimental side coupled up with his harmonious vocals provides the track with an easy and revolving beat. Further, the late Swift’s background vocals and drumming can be heard throughout the track.
Undeniably, the musical elements of Keep on Dreamin’ are the pivotal reason behind the track’s earworm of a melody. The melody is heavily influenced by electronic, soul, and R&B, illustrating the band’s creativity and chemistry on full display. The track starts off with Swift’s drumming followed by Movshon’s funky bassline before Auerbach’s electric guitar kicks in. A tantalizing guitar solo by Auerbach that perfectly ties in the middle chorus and the bridge is also featured in the track. The lyric paints a narrative of being in an alternate reality or a dream like state. In essence, Keep on Dreamin’ signifies not just the feeling of being a constant dream like state; but the need of an eternal dream to serve as an escape from reality. The track’s timbre emits a rolling and soothing tone that continues all throughout the track. Keep on Dreamin’ is built upon a homophonic texture where a single melody (Auerbach’s Voice) is supported by a background harmony (Background Vocals, Keyboard, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums, etc). The meter used is a 4/4-time signature, better known as ‘common time’ in music today and runs on 67 beats per minute (bpm) consistently throughout the track. Needless to say, Keep on Dreamin and the Electrophonic Chronic album serves as a bittersweet tribute to the late Swift and illustrates The Arcs’ experimental, creative, and innovative approach as they drift away from the semi-rock genre adopted in the previous album.
