Houston-based musician Rabit, also known as Eric Burton, has released an experimental dream pop album titled “What Dreams May Come,” which offers a profound exploration of the human condition. The album features a diverse range of collaborators from Burton’s friendship circle, including John Beltran, Eartheater, and other LGBTQ+ icons and friends.
“What Dreams May Come” is noticeably more open than Rabit’s previous works, partly due to the collective artistic vision of the collaborators. The album features a combination of Burton’s chopped-up, DJ Screw-inspired beats and the live acoustics of the guests. The contrast between tender and abrasive elements blesses the album with a wonderfully rugged and imperfect form.
The emotional complexity of the album is exemplified by the voice notes of two friends, Boochie and Lagniappe, who provide some of the album’s most affecting moments. Lagniappe’s amusing anecdote about failing to roll a blunt and Boochie’s pointed attack on the failures of the US healthcare system resonates with the candidness of a Ken Loach film.
“What Dreams May Come” is not just an album, but also a text and an audio missive that wrestles with the complexities of being human. Unlike in his previous work, Rabit does not seem to be fighting against anything or trying to do something different. Instead, he has turned into what makes him who he is and married it with the talents of those around him to create a sincere and affecting paean to humanity.
In an era where music can often seem superficial and commodified, “What Dreams May Come” offers a refreshing reminder of the power of music to explore the intricacies of the human experience.
