Lopatin’s eccojams became vaporwave largely because of what Ramona Xavier does here on Floral Shoppe. Xavier has a more patient hand than Lopatin, and lingers on chunks of soft rock, several from Seventies outfit Pages (which later became Mr. Mister). The hyperpop link to vaporwave through trans vibes is here in the simple act of slowing down Sade and Diana Ross until femme becomes masc. Longer stretches of plangent synth and sax really churn up the whole taste argument, which vaporwave was helping to bury. That “corny” soul record that became a hiphop classic? Let’s take it further! Imagine that your parent’s quiet storm records have become the retaining wall for a new safe space, a padded room for all the weirdos! haha! Didn’t see that coming did you?

– Sasha Frere-Jones