Artist: Travelogue
Album: Imaginary Hospitals
Label: Plastiq Musiq
Tracks: 10
Length: 40:06
Review by: Mike “The Blouse” Leech

Travelogue is the newest electronic entity of Jon Sonnenberg (House of Wires). On his syrupy-sweet second full length release, Imaginary Hospitals, Sonnenberg crafts intricate synthetic music built on subtle electronic textures. It’s about as minimal and “lo-fi” sounding as a techno-pop album can be, and charmingly so. Many of the songs are almost to the point of being danceable and ambient at the same time. Sonnenberg employs muted beats alongside his warm, gentle vocals to create a sound that, while grounded in electronics, feels extremely organic and personal.

The hushed groove of “You and I” plays like a bittersweet anthem for the weary, while “Hospital” immediately follows carrying with it the album’s catchiest and most convulsive hook. The undeniable highlight of Imaginary Hospitals however, lies in the slow-churning “Sumner Street.” Two minutes in, the track rapidly evolves from a barren trance to a soaring, majestic opus with an almost My Bloody Valentine feel. The borderline-giddy “A Happy Ending” soon follows, closing the album on a relatively uplifting and hopeful note.

Though Imaginary Hospitals may be a few blips and bleeps short of a masterpiece, Sonnenberg has proven again that he’s got what it takes to create memorable and affecting techno music. My only real beef with the album was the tendency for some of its songs to bleed into one another and lose a little of their individuality. But it really is hard to complain about music this pleasant. If you’re a fan of Joy Electric, The Human League, Kraftwerk, or even Mum, say hello to your new favorite band.