Via a variant of woozy tape-saturated electronica that’s at once caustic and caressing, it boldly blurs signifiers of new brutalism and beautiful places.
News of a new release whose mix of sci-fi and blue-skied synth is sure to win hearts and minds of Boards and Ghost Box buffs alike. Newcomer Dalham‘s Waves shares both those artists’ musico-cultural coordinates, and likemind hauntology—along with a provenance (Leeds lads, Norman Records‘ Public House Recordings—tuned to transmissions close to Concretism‘s Town Planning.
Waves is schooled to soundtrack similar Scarfolk-inf(l)ected reveries/rabies, though it eschews Chris Sharp’s more brutalist tendencies (cf. The Cold War Season Playlist) for more nuanced dream scenery, as it does the more obvious Schools TV-themed melodies of Ghost Box vogue (more Pye Corner than Advisory Circle); more of a wibbly-wobbly way with Tangerine Dream-y synth tone and sculpted skitter beat: Specimen A—“CHK.”
Dalham dips into a palette of well Carpenter-ed 70s analog synthesis akin to Tomorrow’s Harvest, though his is a voice notably more sui generis than other igloo-viewed BoC-clones (cf. Faex Optim and PBS’73). Specimen B—”New Sun.” Via a variant of woozy tape-saturated electronica that’s at once caustic and caressing, it boldly blurs signifiers of new brutalism and beautiful places: Specimen C—”Hasze.”
Last word to a fan: ‘A satisfying journey of warmhearted gritty electronic nostalgia with quirky rhythmic undertones. Although warm to the core, ‘Waves’ dons an icy exterior while enveloping the listener in deep off kilter ethereal melodies. An intriguing and comfortable listen. Tears may be had.’ (Indifferent Spaces, Waves Bandcamp release)
Waves is available on Public House Recordings [digital | vinyl]
