Technological Hallucinations IV: A Glitchy Love Letter to the Future
Ezhak’s Technological Hallucinations IV is one of those albums that feels like it was beamed straight from an alternate dimension where cassette tapes never went out of style, but somehow they’re playing EDM. Released in 2017 under Eternal Vibes, this experimental vaporwave masterpiece doesn’t just sit in the background—it grabs you by the collar and whispers, "Hey, let me show you something weird." And trust me, it does.
The album straddles genres with ease, blending electronic beats so smooth they could melt steel, while throwing in enough chopped-and-screwed chaos to keep things unpredictable. Tracks like “Numbers” and “Love For Us” are what really stuck with me after countless listens. Let’s dive into why these two tracks feel like old friends I didn’t know I needed.
“Numbers” kicks off with a hypnotic loop that sounds like your calculator had too much coffee and decided to DJ at 3 AM. There’s this eerie precision to the rhythm—like every beat knows exactly where it belongs, even if you don’t. It’s not just music; it’s math turned into vibes. Halfway through, though, Ezhak throws a curveball: glitchy distortions start creeping in, as if the machine itself got self-conscious about being perfect. By the time the track fades out, you’re left wondering whether you should dance or debug your brain. Either way, it’s unforgettable.
Then there’s “Love For Us,” which flips the script entirely. This track feels warm, almost nostalgic, like finding an old mixtape in the glove compartment of a car you rented on accident. The synths shimmer lazily, like sunlight reflecting off chrome, and the melodies have this dreamy, stretched-out quality that makes you want to slow down time. But don’t get too comfy—the track sneaks in moments of dissonance that remind you nothing gold stays forever, especially in vaporwave land. It’s bittersweet without trying too hard, and honestly? That’s its charm.
The rest of the album keeps the energy flowing, with tracks like “Our Salvation” and “Another Life” adding layers of existential pondering wrapped in neon beats. Even “Soon..” closes things out with a vibe so chill it borders on meditative, leaving you floating somewhere between reality and whatever comes next.
What strikes me most about Technological Hallucinations IV isn’t just how polished it sounds—it’s how human it feels. Vaporwave often gets pegged as cold or detached, but Ezhak proves otherwise here. These songs aren’t just experiments; they’re stories told through glitches, echoes, and fragments of sound. Listening to it feels less like hearing an album and more like wandering through someone else’s fever dream.
And hey, maybe that’s the point. Maybe we’re all living in our own glitchy simulations anyway, searching for meaning amidst the static. Or maybe I’m overthinking it because I’ve listened to “Numbers” five times in a row. Who knows?
One thing’s for sure: If aliens ever invade Earth looking for proof of intelligent life, I’m handing them this album. They might not understand it, but damn, they’ll respect it.
