Browsing Tag

Downtempo Electronica

Night Movies got orbital in their cinematic downtempo trip-hop instrumental, Once Around the Sun

Posted on 15 April 2022

Once Around the Sun is an orbital teaser of what’s to come from the highly anticipated album from the UK alt-electro collective, Night Movies. The instrumental downtempo trip-hop track flirts with the brashier tones of trap while the moody yet dreamy cinematic production ensures that your trip around the sun is a cathartically immersive one.

The competition in the electronica field may be fierce but Night Movies, with their dystopically transcendent dark teeth and stellar line up of contributing artists have exactly what it takes to leave an impression.

Once Around the Sun will be available to stream from April 15th worldwide. The album which it was taken from, Dreamish, will be available from August 5th. Check out Night Movies via SoundCloud. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The up and coming producer, A Broken System, created a vintage synth sanctum in his debut album, An Escape.

Posted on 3 December 2021
A Broken System

Amidst the swathes of ambient tones to hit the airwaves this year was the elevated nature-entwining work of the eclectically-inspired music producer, A Broken System. His music is a submersion into a sublime mix of synth-rock, hip hop, electronica and ambient, but his dreamy work is no ordinary sonic palette mashup. The Minnesota-hailing, Atlanta-based artist is fresh from the release of his debut album, An Escape, which was officially released on December 3rd, 2021.

The eight minimalist tracks take nuances of aural dystopia and transfuse them into downtempo, deep house tracks and smooth acid house soundscapes so sultry that they practically become an aphrodisiac. The standout concluding single, Liquid, is almost neo-classic in form. It traverses through haunting reverb and follows synth melodies that become the anchor in the otherwise gravity-defyingly transcendent release.

In short, an Escape is a synthesised sanctuary for anyone who feels at home in vintage electronic tones. The eight tracks pull together as an immersive, explorative sensory experience that you can’t help getting absorbed by. There’s an underlying darkness to An Escape, but the mix of light and dark tones created a multifaceted efficacious reflection of the world as we know it today.

In his own words, here is how A Broken System introduced his debut album:

“An Escape is an amalgamation of influence from many different films, film scores, and video games. It is escapism in the internet age; urban spaces, nature and the environments I have moved between.”

An Escape is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Close to Monday – Guns (Biicla Remix): Indulgently Dark Trip Hop

Posted on 30 October 2021

The rising trend in dark trip-hop seems to be a damning sign of the times, but the breaking electronica artist, Close to Monday, made our bleak human experience worth it with her ethereally powerful single, Guns.

The Biicla Remix of the single will undoubtedly appeal to fans of Portishead, Beach House and Hooverphonic, but there’s plenty of authenticity pulsating with the beats in this indulgently morose track. The vocals are under just enough reverb to ensure the synergy with the driving downtempo beats, but not enough to stifle the evocative power of her dark yet soulful vocal timbre.

The Biicla Remix of Guns is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lorenz System has released his ambiently absorbing electronica debut EP, Sonne.

Posted on 23 July 2021

The highly accoladed artist and electronic composer Nathan Maurice has started his new project under the moniker Lorenz System. His latest release is the 4-track EP Sonne, which delivers deconstructed downtempo EDM beats with ambient lo-fi hip hop kicks.

The perfect introduction to his ambiently absorbing electronica style is the lead track, Yobuko which starts by spilling choral guitar tones before the beat kicks in and carries you through the cathartically sun-kissed instrumental soundscape. The soul that emanates from the release is practically unparalleled in the realms of ambient electronica; vocals are surplus to requirement with the evocative pull of the melodies.

Lorenz System’s debut EP is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

SER gets the ‘Green Light’ in her genre-melding ambient track

Posted on 26 April 2021

Genre- and gender-fluid, LA Westside based SER grew up as a jazz-playing alto saxophonist, but – multi-instrumentalism to the fore, taking in guitar and piano – now goes the full electronic route with sequencing, beats, and vocal loops to bring us ‘Green Light’, A gentle vocal track overlaying chilled, mellow backing and clipped, electronic drums. SER’s arrangement is sparse without being empty, their vocal delivery light and fluid atop the space created by the composition. There’s touches of chilled out psyche-pop indie a la the quiet bits of Glass Animals or Alt-J squirrelled away in here along with the downtempo EDM backdrop and rising chords, SER creating a mixed-up and, yes, genre-fluid cool pop track that mixes up a bunch of influences, gives them a good shake, and produces something neat and original.

You can hear ‘Green Light’ on Spotify now, and follow SER on Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

beatsage – Kings Will Rise featuring Waywell

Posted on 28 January 2021

‘Kings Will Rise’ is the sensually meditative latest soundscape from LA-based electronica artist and producer, beatsage (AKA Chad Taylor), with the reverb-drenched woozy guitar from featuring artist, Waywell, beatsage’s sound became more luminary than ever.

In the absence of lyrics and vocals, the onus is on the electronic progressions and the lofty mellifluous guitar notes with their hypnotic bends to make Kings Will Rise an evocative experience; beatsage discernibly didn’t fail. From start to finish, the monolithic 7:54-minute mix, will lock you into the alchemy which so easily breathes between the two artists. As the track gears up to reach its climax, elements of funk wind their way into the mix as the electronic elements are stripped back and Waywell’s rhythmic prowess dominates the lush shimmering soundscape.

Kings Will Rise is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Cast aside embitterment with Anaté’s celestially panoramic sophomore single ‘First Time’

Posted on 14 January 2021

In 2021, it’s harder than usual to create everlasting positive memories, with timely their sophomore release, ‘First Time’, alt-electronic pop duo, Anaté, invite the listener to rekindle the magic of affable memories have become soured by embitterment.

First Time asks the listener to stop throwing previously cherished memories away by the wayside just because the co-creator of them is no longer around. It’s a difficult request to make, but through the celestially panoramic alchemy of this intrinsically stylistic feat of downtempo electronic pop, you won’t just feel yourself become open to suggestion. You’ll feel floods of nostalgic imagery finding synergy with the melodic tides of the sensual yet powerful release.

If the difference between Anaté’s debut and sophomore single tells us anything, it’s to always expect the unexpected. Yet, one constant is the depth of the lyricism which works alongside their intoxicating sound.

First Time may not fit the usual perennial pop earworm mould, but it’s all the more unforgettable for it. Anaté’s succinct command of melodies and ability to offer a resounding directness with their music will undoubtedly see them go far in 2021 and beyond. If you’re sick of artists who only scratch at the surface of superficiality with their music, it’s time to start paying attention to Anaté.

To revel in some amorous nostalgia for yourselves, you can check out First Time which was released on January 13th, 2021 via Spotify.

For more ways to listen and more information on the luminary duo, head over to their official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Dark Electro Pop duo Anaté have debuted their emboldening single ‘Confusion’

Posted on 19 December 2020

‘Confusion’ is the darkly beguiling standout single from lockdown-born multi-national alt-electro-pop duo, Anaté’s forthcoming debut album, ‘Confessions’. It serves as the perfect introduction to the European artist’s empoweringly soulful style. Given the state of collective uncertainty which 2021 has instilled in psyches across the globe, it has ‘playlist staple’ written all over it.

Confusion opens up the conversation about duality and the conflict which courses between our intrinsic desire and the desires we sate because of societal expectation. There’s been plenty of talk in recent years about ‘living your best life’, Anaté put the emphasis on *your* with their exhilaratingly polished track which allows layers of overlapping vocals to trip over themselves, illustrating the essence of the track.

Confusion also lingers in the trippy downtempo production which mimics the disjointing nature of doubt and uncertainty. The glitchy beats are efficacious enough to resonate with your own experiences of confusion and offer consoling validation by the affirmation that the rest of the world feels exactly the same, despite pretences of togetherness.

With their ability to paint a picture of agitation while also allowing the listener to indulge a track which is powerful enough to remove the shackles of societal pressure, we’re all too eager to hear what the rest of the Trip-Hop-inspired album delivers.

Any fans of Hooverphonic, Morcheeba and Massive Attack will undoubtedly want this trailblazingly emboldening artist on their radar.

Anaté’s single, Confusion, is available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Zach Kenney – Don’t Forget Me: Ambiently Compelling Electronica

Posted on 16 July 2020

Up and coming Electronic artist and producer Zach Kenney has recently released their debut album Misplaced Thoughts, a collection of stunningly immersive soundscapes which allow you to explore the artist’s expression, your own mental frequencies and the resonance in between.

We’ve all had a little more rumination time than usual recently, Misplaced Thoughts is the perfect soundtrack for those quiet and complacent moments. While each track is a pleasure to get lost in, the best introduction to Zach Kenney’s sound is “Don’t Forget Me”.

Whether it was the title of the instrumental soundscape or the all too potent morose sting of the ambient and almost hopeful electronic notes, Don’t Forget Me ironically became an unforgettable aural experience. Ambient hits of catharsis don’t come much sweeter than what you will find in Don’t Forget Me.

You can check out Zach Kenney’s single Don’t Forget Me along with the rest of their album via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Norwegian producer Botolv blows down the house with spectacular ”Petrichor”

Posted on 19 June 2020
https://soundcloud.com/audetic/petrichor

That smooth down tempo vibe while you are chilling out by the pool, sunglasses are on and you have good company right beside you. This is the summer beat of relaxing magnitude and you have a cold beverage in your hand of course.

”Petrichor” is a distinctive, earthy, usually pleasant odor that is associated with rainfall especially when following a warm, dry period. It arises from a combination of volatile plant oils and geosmin released from the soil into the air and by ozone carried by downdrafts. This song sounds and smells very pleasant to me and I want to hear it louder and louder.

Norwegian producer Christian Nerheim Torkelsen aka Botolv is onto a winner here with his progressive and electronic house with a cinematic touch. He is from Bergen where the air is apparently so clear. With music like this his mind must be crystal clear too. ”Petrichor” is a fantastic down tempo song that skyrockets into the mountains with a gold medal wrapped around the vinyl. This is a terrific song that I thoroughly enjoyed and so will you.

Stream this new track via the Soundcloud page.

Review by Llewelyn Screen