Sun Airway’s Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier was one of my most listened to albums of 2010, so when John from the Irish duo Solar Bears sent me a new remix of ‘American West,’ I knew I’d dig it. They’ve built onto my second favorite Sun Airway tune, after the simply perfect Oh, Naoko, adding the laid-back synths and deep, free-form electronic feel found on their September debut She Was Coloured In.

Sun Airway - American West (Solar Bears Remix)

Sun Airway - American West

Previously

Sun Airway - Oh, Naoko

At the end of October Philadelphia-based electronic pop duo Sun Airway dropped their debut album, Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier. The ten-track LP pushes beyond Sun Airway’s previous releases under the name A-Sides. “Sun Airway has hit on the sweet spot where infectious hooks and cerebral electronic pop intersect, pulling textural sound and pop songcraft into one.” Side A’s ‘Oh, Naoko’ is one of the songs off the album that stretches, pulling away from my simple, first-listen classification of Sun Airway as chillwave or bedroom pop. I’ve come to appreciate the album’s complexities— its peppy keys, deep soundscapes (‘Five Years’ is an endless expanse wrapped up into seven minutes), Jon Barthmus’ warm vocals and of course its catchy pop hooks. Pick up Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier here.

Sun Airway - Oh, Naoko

Sun Airway - Oh, Naoko (Houses Remix)

Delorean - Stay Close (Sun Airway Remix)