Origami Ghosts’ “Virtual Reality Boy” is musically reminiscent of something from the 2000s before indie rock and pop became too much of a genre branding exercise. Its idiosyncratic vocals and rhythms feel organic like something written because someone had a nice guitar melody and a concept that is beautifully realized in the animated music video with images straight out of early video art and resonances with a Daniel Johnston album cover. The song seems to be one of exploring the wonders of a virtual world and in the end a yearning to be back in one’s own meatspace even though real life can often be challenging and a bummer and lacking in supposed infinite choices. But the lack of actual connection and the underrated and often unconscious emotional adjustment of not being overstimulated and thus natural emotional regulation is something our minds crave even when we’ve convinced ourselves otherwise. The vocal melody suits the song and its tone well even if it’s not some overprocessed and conventionally “pristine” because it’s human and that is where the song’s appeal rings most true. Watch the video for “Virtual Reality Boy” on YouTube and follow Los Angeles-based, psychedelic pop band Origami Ghosts at the links below. The band’s latest album A fine time to talk about nothing released August 8, 2025 on vinyl, cassette, CD, download and streaming.
Queen City Sounds and Art 
You must be logged in to post a comment.