SINGLES CRUISE 05.31.19

CLOUD TANGLE - "FALLING ASLEEP"

In this Grouper-esque track by the Australian multi-instrumentalist, Amber Ramsay's nocturnal voice and minimal instrumentation floats in and out of our liminal consciousness like worried thoughts that later get reprocessed into our dream state. Likewise, the gradual accruing of instrumentation by the end of the track is anything but restful. Horns follow the three note melody to roaring completion.  Highly recommended. 

ANNI HOGAN & KID CONGO - "MY CAREER - MEKONS REMIX"

Anni Hogan is having a brilliant second act. On this Mekons' remixed track, the Marc and the Mambas collaborator and Kid Congo Powers (The Cramps / Bad Seeds) composition is given a stuttering, sputtering, on-the-grid remix. A sultry and tragic track is interspersed with IDM breakdowns that seem to throw the last few decades of UK electronic music in a blender with an open container, spilling it all out without thought of tidying up.

MOSCOW YOUTH CULT - "LOW VISION"

The slow build of voices against the squall of swirling synthesizers gathers static electricity until it breaks wide open in a surging, playful bass-heavy groove that eventually doubles and triples its intensity. Folding in heavily processed guitars, a pounding bass line and live-kit percussion "Low Vision" cuts a broad swath, inviting comparisons to both Battles, Fuck Buttons and Boards of Canada. Startling precision with a woozy sound palate. 

HUNDREDMILLIONTHOUSAND - "1"

On "1", the Philipino / Persian artist crafts a massive towering song out of a distorted violin, choral arrangements, skittering beat pads and percussive piano note clusters to create a track that rides the line between so many modes of expression. Recalling Liturgy's opus " The Ark Work", HTM utilizes a vast musical knowledge of both Western and Eastern Classical music to create crushing works of high concept realism. 

TRENTEMØLLER - "SLEEPER"

"Sleeper" is the first we've heard from the Copenhagen based experimental electronic artist in nearly 3 years. The track is baked through with swelling arpeggios that rise and fade following "Sleeper's" emotional GPS, tracking through lines between melancholy and wonder. Droning vocals and massive tonal shifts punctuate Trentmøller's first foray back into the public consciousness. It's an auspicious start.

MENDING - "ALAN CATCHES A BREAK"

So, where are we in Mending's massive multi-album arcing narrative? To jump in now as a way to connect this to past stories composed by the Chicago duo would be futile. Instead it's important to focus on what Mending such a great project outside of their ambitious storytelling: the noisy, distorted radio static running throughout, Kate Adam's sonorous voice and cinematic sense of place and eye for detail. Can't wait to see where all this goes.

IN SONITUS LUX - "AS YET"

The combination of the hang drum and processed tuba make for quite strange bedfellows, but in Serson Brannen's In Sonitus Lux project with Bill Pritchard, "As Yet" showcases both instruments massive tonal range as complimentary vessels exploring unique sonic spaces. Brannen's Hang playing and electronics set a monastic exploratory pace while Pritchard's tuba creates droning overtones or rips through the delicate fabric with massive bass-heavy blasts. 

BROKEN PEAK - "MORGONDIS"

The Swedish ambient composer pushes everything into sacred air on the gorgeous "Morgondis". Crafting overlapping drones and tonal shifts without a sharp corner in sight, Broken Peak rides each sine wave to their blissful conclusion - featuring brassy synth leads and purse tonal driven snow on the overtones. Beautiful work by the Nordic ambient artist.Listen on Spotify

SAL DULU FEAT. STAHHR - "BUZZCUT"

A rare collaboration between Ireland-based Sal Dulu and Atlanta-bred staHHr. The result is a series of glorious left-field, plunderphonics from Sal Dulu that stitch together 60's Girl Groups, lilting classical and hazy shoegaze production that recall Odd Nosdam, Lushlife and Cities Aviv while StaHHR unleashes an off-kilter flow that is at once rooted in golden era hip-hop and mutant strains of MF Doom and Jean Grae. Excellent work.