Darkly seductive yet luminous and uplifting, Pollen will definitely work on the more intelligent and eccentric dance floors out there, but will be even more effective and rewarding if listened to attentively at home, alone, at night. This is high-tech, original and moving electronic music that possesses an attractive, intricate futuristic nature.
[Release page] French composer Vincent Villuis aka AES Dana returns with Pollen—his most powerful and high-octane album to date. One of the many things I like about AES Dana’s catalog, is that each album serves as an engaging extension of the AES Dana sound and style. Each album contains new elements and displays a more sophisticated, refined production while keeping the original enchanting signature atmospheres and forward-thinking approach of its predecessors alive and fresh. Pollen continues this fascinating evolution. It seems that Vincent Villuis is in constant sonic exploration—cruising through all kinds of territories, and drawing inspiration from a myriad of sources. Fortunately for us, his exploration keeps bearing fruit.
Pollen brilliantly combines highly magnetizing IDM-infused electronica with stylish progressive morning-twilights trance, deep groovy techno / tech house and electric acid ambient. Ex founding member of the psychedelic ambient / trance project Asura and artistic director of the famous compilations series Fahrenheit Project, Villuis is also co-owner / manager of Ultimae Records, and one part of H.U.V.A. Network—a collaborative project with Magnus Birgersson, the Swedish sound wizard and multi-instrumentalist aka Solar Fields. The other half behind the reins of Ultimae is Sandrine Gryson (Mahiane), label artist and DJ who is responsible for two of the label’s most special compilations—Oxycanta and Oxycanta: Winter Blooms. She wrote and produced two tracks with Villuis for this album—”Tree.Some” and “A carmine day,” two of the more uptempo, ecstatic tracks of the album.
Darkly seductive yet luminous and uplifting, Pollen will definitely work on the more intelligent and eccentric dance floors out there, but will be even more effective and rewarding if listened to attentively at home, alone, at night. This is high-tech, original and moving electronic music that possesses an attractive, intricate futuristic nature. All of AES Dana’s albums are highly recommended, especially Leylines from 2009 and Perimeters from 2011, but Pollen is definitely AES Dana’s best work to date. A beautiful album best taken in as a whole.
Pollen is available on Ultimae. [Release page | Bandcamp]
