On his most recent LP, ’95 Civic, Dende has taken his craftsmanship to the next level. This 12-track audio journey provides a ride like no other. From start to finish, listeners are immersed in consistent themes of love, heartbreak, and passion. Every song is seamlessly flowing into one another with outstanding precision and finesse. Not only is the album nearly spotless sonically, but the Texas-bred artist shows off various flaws in his self-aware lyricism – singing out his emotions in a soulful southern church vocal style. As a follow up to Before We Crash’s positive energy, ’95 Civic offers an ideal full-length companion piece.
Dende’s new album begins with a gentle start on “I Wrote You A Song,” allowing the R&B star to demonstrate his impressive vocal acrobatics. The momentum is then taken up a notch with “Swerve,” featuring fellow artist Eimaral Sol. Tracks such as “Block Me” and “Lost” are pleasant interludes before the album’s soaring highlight, “Nightmares.” After this aural roller-coaster ride, things move back up in tempo on “Wish You Well,” featuring Chris Patrick of CXR fame. The two have been electrifying crowds together on Patrick’s Gang Activity Tour, further cementing their status as collaborative forces to be reckoned with.
Say Dende of the new project, “Releasing ’95 Civic feels like the last thing I needed to do to move on to the next phase of my life. Although it’s a sad project, the time it allowed me to spend with A&R Mizz and producer Billy Blunt is something I will never forget. This is our best work yet.”
