mixtape maestro (2.0)

It wouldn’t be unleashing any dark secret to publicly state that The-Dream‘s lil’ chipmunk chirp take on singing has a tendency to edge in fingernails-on-chalkboard grating territory. But to his credit, his itty-bitty pipes add a complimenting featherweight layer to his already light and fluffy brand of R&B-pop.

Take “Walking On The Moon” for instance. The Kanye West-featured track, from his increasingly appealing sophomore effort, Love Vs. Money, is a sleek, sci-fi textured jaunt (“Welcome to 2085″, he intros) that houses his alien-toned coo to great effect.

As with nearly every other song he does, “Moon”‘s lyrical theme centers on catching romantic feelings in the club with him “circling stars” and “walkin’ on the moon” after laying eyes on one particular beauty across the dancefloor. To illustrate the Cupid-struck wooziness that’s got him floating off the ground, the backing track melds influences from ’70′s MJ, ’80′s-era Prince and new wave with ca. ’90′s Timbaland, creating this weightless ear-tickle of a beat for his voice to delicately soar through.

Now a more full-bodied vocalist would’ve most likely ruined it’s fantasy atmosphere, awkwardly clunking their way through it like the Incredible Hulk on a bed of flowers. But with Dream in the driver seat, coloring up the tune with his endless supply of ethereal “ooh” mini-runs, “Walking On The Moon” lands as a lovely pop morsel so full of airy charm, even a heavy onslaught of repeated listens won’t leave one fully satisfied. Guess we now know why he goes by that name.

Pre-order Love Vs. Money, due March 10th, here.

DL: “Walking On The Moon” (alt)

Peep the video for his current single, “Rockin’ That Thang” below: