Browsing Tag

Dark Electronica

SEBASTIAN MĀRCUS broke the monocultural mould with their reverb-drenched genre-defying single ‘PCG’

Posted on 21 January 2021
SEBASTIAN MĀRCUS

SEBASTIAN MĀRCUS took his experimentalism to ethereal new heights with the release of their single ‘PCG’; a reverb-drenched genre-defying feat of electronica which breaks the monocultural mould.

From bilingual sensually phantasmal harmonies to effect-laden ominous non-lexical vocals, SEBASTIAN MĀRCUS well and truly demonstrated their chill-inducing talents in PCG which melds elements of trap, dream pop and ambient electronica to hypnotic effect. It’s well worth putting a sweater on for; you can expect the entirety of your consciousness to be consumed as you listen to the paradoxically chilling and simultaneously lush track.

You’ll have to wait a little longer before you can check out PCG for yourselves. In the meantime, head over to SEBASTIAN MĀRCUS ’SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dust has delivered an electronica mix as dark and dystopic as 2020 with ‘Bravado’

Posted on 31 December 2020

Dust is the latest moniker for Richmond, VA-based artist and professional drummer, Chris Farmer, after sharing stages with the likes of Fishbone and Hootie & the Blowfish, his talent turned to producing heavy, bass-riding electronica which showcases his rhythmic precision and ability to entrance though mind-melting layers of insurgently powerful electronica.

Their latest release is the highly-anticipated 4-track EP ‘Bravado’. The best introduction to Dust’s domineering instrumental Alt Electronica is undoubtedly the title single. With some hints of And One-era Industrial within the monolithic drum n bass mix, it’s as dark and dystopic as 2020 and far more entrancing through the producer’s rhythmic command which allows his sound to boast psytrance style danceability.

You’ll have to wait a little longer before you can check out Bravado for yourselves. In the meantime, head over to Spotify where you’ll be able to check out their previous releases.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Neoclassic Electronica Took a Dark Turn with Brikcs’ latest single ‘Water’

Posted on 27 December 2020

Icelandic genre-bender, Brikcs, may have earned their artistic stripes in Rock and Metal bands, but with his solo work, the imagery which his synth-driven music conjures is just as beguiling as the haunting strings which quiver over grand piano keys.

‘Water’ is a darkly mesmeric introduction to their Neoclassic evocative style, once you dive in, your consciousness is overridden for 3:33 resolving minutes as you lock into the production, quiescent enough for you to hear a pin drop, intense enough to leave you with chills.

The contrast between the abrasive lyricism and the classically-inspired instrumentals which border on the celestial leaves plenty of room for your mind to wander between dark and light. Brikcs found the perfect balance between artful Avant-Garde and accessibility, which will undoubtedly put him in good stead with his solo career in 2021 and beyond. Lord knows we need to replace Nick Cave before he gets any more right-wing.

Water is available to stream (pun definitely intended) via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

LearningToDive prescribes Alt Electro catharsis through their superlative sophomore single ‘Falling Leaves’

Posted on 15 December 2020

‘Falling Leaves’ is the entrancingly melodious sophomore single from New Zealand-based Alt Electronica artist LearningToDrive, if it doesn’t leave you transfixed, you may want to check if you’ve still got a pulse.

The artist, composer and producer used an intoxicatingly sublime blend of Alt Rock, 80’s Pop and Post Punk within their expressive sound to create an absorbing platform for their introspective-laden lyrics to fall into.

Their ability to connect the dots of the human experience while quashing malignant emotion under swathes of lush reverb and searingly reverberant bass is unparalleled.

With a debut EP in the pipeline for 2021, you’ll definitely want LearningToDrive on your radar.

You can check out Falling Leaves for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Find the catharsis in Ric Santos quiescently evocative ambient electronica track ‘Drift’

Posted on 6 December 2020

NYC Electronic artist and producer, Ric Santos, set his own bar exceptionally high with ‘In the Lead Works with the Beast’ which we had the pleasure of reviewing last year, but once again, he’s blown us away with his profound ability to make electronic arrangements bleed pure emotion.

His latest cinematic score, ‘Drift’ is just one of the standout tracks to feature on their forthcoming EP which is due for release in January 2021. After hearing the quiescently evocative alchemy in Drift, it is safe to say that we’re already eager to hear the rest.

The experimentally ambient instrumental mix would be perfectly placed in an OST to aurally narrate fragility experienced in an aftermath. Whether that be an epic battle or an intense interpersonal upheaval. It’s the calm after the storm, a space to breathe, a time to dare to be optimistic, a soundscape to simply exist within; and a stunning one at that.

You can check out Drift via Spotify. Keep up to date with future releases via Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lumiere – Nyctophillia: Darkly Cinematic Electronica Meets Neo-Classical

Posted on 1 January 2020
Lumiere

A song dedicated to the feeling of finding comfort in the darkness was never going to evade our radar without piquing our bleak curiosity. Lumiere’s stunning composition Nyctophillia certainly didn’t disappoint.

The neo-classically infused cinematic Electronica score hooks you in from the first stabbing piano note. From there on out, you’re guided along by a bitter-sweet melody which allows you to embrace the aural darkness and find the fractures of effervescence through the lighter notes. Nyctophillia is so much more than an arrangement of deftly played instrumentals. It’s an offering of pure, resonant, cathartic emotion.

If you could imagine what it would sound like if the Verve started crafting instrumental scores, you’d get a good idea of what Lumiere has to offer.

Watching the visuals which Lumiere has put together with the evocatively arrestive soundscape in the official music video is an absolute must. You can check it out for yourselves via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast.

Long Earth Trading Company – The Long World: Darkly Dystopian Tech House

Posted on 14 November 2019

If you’re looking for darkly dystopian soundscapes to delve into, look no further than the tracks found on up and coming Electronica artist Long Earth Trading Company’s debut album “Sifting Through the Wreckage”.

While each of the singles offers their own doom-laden mise en scenes using aural atmospherics alone, the best introduction to Long Earth Trading Company’s sound is “The Long World”. The futuristic Tech House mix always keeps you within a grip of curious disconcertment as you anticipate how the mostly instrumental mix will evolve next. There’s a spacey Sci-Fi vibe behind the beats while the vocal samples will make you feel as though you’ve ended up in a darker old school Doctor Who episode.

You can check out Long Earth Trading Company’s single The Long World for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast