Dilettante (2022)
Initially a self-titled debut, Dilettante is the kind of debut that feels like a warm, velvet sunrise. However, the duo have since changed their name to Absolute Treat. And that is exactly what they are. The duo, Natalie Panacci and Julia Wittmann, craft songs touched with hints of melancholia, and synth beds creating a dream-like atmosphere. Their intertwined vocals float and glide, drawing comparisons to the likes of ABBA and St. Lucia.
Intro opens the door like a fresh spring morning in slow motion. Shimmering synths, dewy textures, and a tranquility that feels rare these days. It’s like stepping into a garden where everything sparkles and shines. From there, Home breezes in with that effervescent brand of alt-synth-pop bliss that the duo does so well. Ethereal and upbeat, this is the kind of track that asks the question, “What more could you want?”—and then delivers it.
Bonnie transports you to an island dreamscape, with percussion that sways like palm trees and synths that pierce through like sunlight. The vocals layer and harmonize with effortless cool, giving the whole thing a sonic richness that feels both fresh and nostalgic. Then comes Stay, and suddenly you’re in the hands of two girls that know exactly how to pace a journey. This song gives and takes like a mastered storyteller—its structure dynamic, its celestial push-and-pull brilliantly executed. It’s the kind of track that earns your attention through restraint as much as release.
Blue is the power ballad moment. Falsetto, angelic, and achingly sincere, it floats in a dreamy analog haze that wouldn’t feel out of place on an early Queen of Jeans record. But halfway through, something shifts. The track begins to build, and suddenly we’re in this soaring ‘60s beach-rock anthem, complete with glowing synth trails. It’s unexpected, yet totally inevitable. A standout, without question. Tom swerves just when you think you’ve got the album pinned. A more electric, genre-hopping production that momentarily steps away from synth-pop in favor of something with a little more edge. And yet, those signature Absolute Treat vocals anchor the track and keep it all in orbit. It’s a welcome shift.
And then there’s Connie—and Connie is sexy. A character, a vibe, a moment. The storytelling is seductive, but it’s the saxophone solo that seals the deal. It slinks in with a kind of grown-up charisma that instantly hits. Whether or not you can rise to the occasion, well… that’s between you and Connie.
Monster closes things out with big energy. A dreamy, piercing, synth-forward anthem with driving percussion and sky-high harmonies. It lifts you up right when you need it most and sends you out of the record on a glittering high like an M83 hit.
Overall, Dilettante sparkles and crackles with synth-pop expertise, offering a refreshing blast of pop magic that is both satisfying and unrelenting. From its very first note, it welcomes you in—not with a bang, but with an invitation. Dreamy, cinematic, and self-assured, Absolute Treat’s isn’t here to prove anything. They’re just here to vibe and glisten
