This Adelaide artist enjoys an enviable craft to his sound. The five compositions that make up Contact sit comfortably in the cooler side of electro, with Featherstone drawing on electronica to add texture and warmth.
Elegant acid-dipped electro
Featherstone. A name that conjures a mason of deft touch. In all seriousness, when it comes to this Australian artist; the image isn’t too far from reality. After setting up his own imprint, Ernest’s Way, this Adelaide musician charmed the electronic faithful with his own brand of elegant acid-dipped electro. Having featured on labels like Gated and Nebulae, he returns to his own for Contact.
The title piece opens. Elegant, elongated key patterns explore space and time, cascading chords dipped in reverb as clean beats keep us tethered to terra firma. Bulging basslines and distortion introduce “Flight Path.” Fizzing from the needle drop, a fiery energy is maintained at boiling point as colder notes descend. That same rawness occupies “Superchomp.” Drum patterns speed on frigid lines as sci-fi waves wash across distorted satellite bleeps and dancing acid starlight. The record searches for a balance between the coldness of the beyond, the sub-zero electronics of the machines warmed by organic notes and a human touch. Featherstone journeys further out of earth’s orbit with “Arrival.” Lancing keys are subdued by darkened bass stabs as hi-hats and crystalline snares pierce. “New Horizons” closes. Thick globular kicks are softened by sailing strings before an oblong melody descends to bring down the curtain on this astral excursion.
This Adelaide artist enjoys an enviable craft to his sound. The five compositions that make up Contact sit comfortably in the cooler side of electro, with Featherstone drawing on electronica to add texture and warmth. An accomplished EP from a talented musician who will undoubtedly garner attention from both labels and the electronics faithful.
Contact is available on Ernest’s Way. [Bandcamp]
