Vcam :: Arconide (n5MD)

There is excellent sonic craftsmanship and an intuitive sense of melody to be found in every track, making this album really a must-listen.

Sonic craftsmanship and an intuitive sense of melody

Fans of mid/late 90s Autechre and Arovane rejoice! Vcam (aka James Long) has returned again with Arconide—on limited edition MiniDisc, no less—and brings us (familiar) strong vibes of that time period. Just a reminder, it’s been nearly 20 years since the Shaelslip EP! And like contemporaries Qebo, exm, Mitoma, Valance Drakes and others, Vcam takes the signature glitch style to places they haven’t yet. I always enjoy hearing something as rhythmically dense and complex as classic IDM, glitch, drill’n bass—but by new artists carving out emotional territory and building new structures on those time-honored foundations. Each piece on Arconide isn’t merely an aesthetic homage to Ae and the early 90s IDM scene, but also a unique and carefully crafted piece unto itself. There is excellent sonic craftsmanship and an intuitive sense of melody to be found in every track, making this album really a must-listen.

Arconide is available on n5MD December 4, 2020 as a limited edition MiniDisc and download. [Bandcamp]