Emerging from Amsterdam’s ever-vibrant music scene, Biatlón arrives with their dazzling debut single, “evergreen”. This track is more than just a promising first release—it’s a finely crafted journey through nostalgic textures and sun-drenched emotional landscapes, blending dream-pop elegance with a shoegaze haze. Channeling the spirit of Slowdive and the shimmering sophistication of Prefab Sprout, Biatlón introduces themselves with a sound that feels both timeless and contemporary.
“evergreen” opens with a wash of jangly guitars that immediately conjure a sense of familiarity and warmth. The arrangement feels like a memory caught in golden hour light—soft, glowing, and fleeting. Layered vocals weave through the instrumentation like a gentle breeze, creating a rich sonic atmosphere that’s easy to get lost in. There’s a deliberate restraint in the way the band builds their sound, choosing texture over intensity, and emotion over theatrics. Every note seems to echo from some hidden corner of the past, inviting the listener to revisit forgotten feelings and distant summers.
At the heart of “evergreen” is a dreamy, transportive quality. Lush synth flourishes rise and fall in tandem with the steady pulse of guitars, evoking the grandeur of early ’90s shoegaze but reinterpreted through a lens of modern subtlety. The vocals are ethereal—more felt than heard in places—and they add to the song’s sense of intimate distance. Rather than pulling the listener in through raw power, Biatlón seduces with softness and depth, achieving a sound that feels both expansive and introspective.
The track’s sonic aesthetic is inseparable from its emotional undercurrent. There’s a romantic melancholy here, suggested by the band’s description of imagery “from a world of sunny days and forgotten emotions.” It’s as though the song itself is a postcard from a place you once knew, a memory that has faded at the edges but still holds weight. The warmth in the production, paired with the dreamlike layering of instruments, creates a sense of longing—not for something lost, but for something just out of reach.
Just past the one-minute mark, “evergreen” shifts subtly, introducing hints of sophisti-pop polish reminiscent of Prefab Sprout. This blend of refinement and sentimentality gives the track a timeless charm—elegant without being aloof, heartfelt without being overwrought. It’s a delicate balance that Biatlón manages with surprising confidence for a debut act.
What’s especially striking is how the song manages to feel simultaneously nostalgic and fresh. While rooted in the textures of classic dream-pop and shoegaze, “evergreen” doesn’t mimic—it reimagines. There’s a clarity in its production and a maturity in its pacing that sets it apart from derivative efforts in the genre. This isn’t just a tribute to the past; it’s a quiet evolution, signaling a band that knows where they’ve come from and where they want to go.
As debut singles go, “evergreen” is more than just an introduction—it’s a statement of intent. Biatlón isn’t here to follow trends; they’re here to craft immersive sonic worlds. With this track, they offer a glimpse into one such world, where melodies glisten, emotions linger, and time seems to slow down just long enough for us to remember what we thought we had forgotten.
For fans of dreamy guitars, layered vocals, and music that captures the feeling of a half-remembered dream, Biatlón’s “evergreen” is a must-listen. It’s not just a song—it’s a space, a feeling, a reverie. And it’s only the beginning.
