Flatland Sound Studio continue in their extraterrestrial pursuit of 8-bit electronics, bass, beats and breaks.
Vancouver-based Max Greening’s Flatland Sound Studio (FSS) project pleasantly returns following up from Maximum Vacation Plus (Bedroom Research, 2015)—described as “…the soundtrack to a cold medicine overdose or the after effect of watching too many foreign language cartoons while recovering from dental surgery and extremely strong coffee.” On Ocean Radio Planet, FSS continue in their extraterrestrial pursuit of 8-bit electronics, bass, beats and breaks.
Reminiscent of early 90s-era Prodigy (“Out Of Space,” anyone?), Squarepusher and Funkstörung, their latest 8-pack is consumed by ravaged low-end blips and bleeps, broken melodies, and leftfield rhythmic explosions as evidenced on the highlight track “Gush.” Another head-nodding piece is “Kelper,” its drenched harmonic tones are both chopped up and firmly implanted in chilled post-glitch panoramas. Elsewhere you’ll find more tranquil synthesized lounge, distorto bass, and vocals (ref. “Sea Me.”) FSS certainly have a knack for the obscure, abstract and often fragmented video-game treatments (ref. “Worship.”) On tracks like “Wave Arp,” a flickering pulse and drill’n bass dynamic surrounds the subtle, clipped vocal chorus. The closing love song (“Zoma,”) is a literal blast, its all-encompassing laid-back café glitch, piano keys, staccato percussion and somber vocals are brisk and brittle.
In all, Ocean Radio Planet is a fine-tuned behemoth of electrical activity, its robust digital-to-analog groove makes repeated listening all the more enjoyable and fun.
Ocean Radio Planet is available on King Deluxe.
https://vimeo.com/182805759
