Vinkelvolten II is the twin of its older sibling. Understated and uncluttered, the quintet on offer is a perfect illustration of an often overlooked sound within the electronic music spectrum, overlooked but a style definitely worth exploring. A pure pleasure of lovingly machined melodies, from start to finish.
Firescope has carved out quite and individual niche for itself. Steven Rutter’s label has hosted collaborations between techno greats, released albums from modern day electro masters and given energy, time and vinyl to debutants, vinyl lovingly mastered and produced. Firescope also calls on musicians to look into their own style and revisit sounds.
2017 saw Bauri, aka Martin Abrahamsson, release Vinkelvolten, a quartet of beautifully crafted electronica. Although Abrahamsson had been focussed on techno in recent, the Swedish musician returned to his machine melodics and thought-provoking electronica. After the success of the four tracker it was inevitable that more would follow.
This second installment picks up where the first left off. Those same warm understated tones are present, as are the organic textures and softened hues that characterized Bauri’s Firescope debut. The calm saunter of “Hertsi” introduces the 12”. Slow dreamy notes float across relaxed hi-hats and snares in this gentle lullaby. And a lullaby would describe much of the EP. Wonderfully warm sounds are selected, compiled and presented without ever stressing or straining any single component. The title piece, with its shuffling glitched ruffles and climbing keys, is a perfect example of this balance Bauri achieves. Beats are somewhat turned on their head, or turned down. Although rhythms are present, tempos have been reduced so as they act as a loose frame within which water-colored keys create radiant patterns. This is plain to hear in the lightly crunched drums and intricate chords of “Wobbly Rhodes,” a track is classic electronica. Chip-tune echoes arrive with the closer. Noodling notes ascend next to croaky vocoder samples as aquatic motifs pool in this deceptively complex piece.
Vinkelvolten II is the twin of its older sibling. Understated and uncluttered, the quintet on offer is a perfect illustration of an often overlooked sound within the electronic music spectrum, overlooked but a style definitely worth exploring. A pure pleasure of lovingly machined melodies, from start to finish.
Vinkelvolten II is available on Firescope.
