Serafine by Accou: A Synthwave Acid Trip You Didn’t Know You Needed
Let’s cut the crap. Serafine isn’t your run-of-the-mill synthwave album—it’s a freakin’ labyrinth of soundscapes that punches you in the gut and whispers sweet nothings into your ear all at once. Released back in 2017 by Belgian wunderkind Accou under Jj Funhouse (who also killed it on the artwork), this thing is an experimental beast wrapped up in ambient vibes with enough edge to slice through mediocrity like butter.
First off, let’s talk tracks. There are twelve—or thirteen if you count repeats—but two really stuck their hooks deep into my brain: "Être sorcière" and "Les bleus de Yokosuka." Why these? Because they don’t just sit there being “nice” or “cool.” Nope. They grab you by the collar and demand attention.
"Être sorcière"—which means “to be a witch,” FYI—isn’t messing around. It’s dark, brooding, but somehow still feels like floating through space while someone chants spells over you. The synths hit hard, glitchy as hell, but smooth where it counts. Like, yeah, I know exactly what kind of sorcery Accou was conjuring when he made this one. And damn, it works. This track lingers long after it ends, haunting your playlist rotation like some ethereal ghost DJ who refuses to leave.
Then there’s "Les bleus de Yokosuka," which sounds like walking into a neon-lit cyberpunk cityscape at 3 AM. It starts slow, almost lazy, then BAM—it kicks into gear with layers of pulsing beats and melancholic undertones. If you’ve ever felt lost in thought staring out a rain-streaked window, this song will slap those feelings right back into focus. Plus, the title alone makes me wanna grab a katana and go full samurai mode. Respect.
Look, I ain’t saying every track hits as hard as these two. Some drift too far into ambient territory for my taste ("Attendre," anyone?), but even those quieter moments feel intentional. Like Accou knew exactly how to balance chaos with calm. Experimental music can often feel pretentious or self-indulgent, but not here. Every note, every beat, feels earned.
Now here’s the kicker: listening to Serafine feels less like hearing an album and more like living inside someone else’s fever dream. By the time you hit "Décollage final," you’re not sure whether you wanna cry, scream, or start dancing wildly in your underwear. Maybe all three.
And honestly? That’s what makes it so damn good. Music should mess with you a little, ya know? Keep you guessing. Leave you slightly unsettled yet craving more. So next time you think electronic music is just background noise for coding or zoning out, throw on Serafine. Let it break your expectations wide open. Oh, and maybe put on some headphones—because trust me, you’ll wanna catch every detail.
Final thought? Accou didn’t just make an album; he crafted a trip. One that leaves you wondering if Belgium secretly holds the key to unlocking humanity’s collective subconscious. Or maybe they just have really good coffee over there. Who knows.
