(02.22.08) After a lengthy hiatus, UK-based label Awkward Silence makes a welcome return to the electronic music scene. Having previously released a series of acclaimed split 7″ singles featuring artists such as Arovane, Lowfish, Skanfrom, Sybarite, Bauri, Novel 23, The Marcia Blaine School for Girls, Maps and Diagrams and Isan to name just a few, the label resumes activities with split single from Cheju and newcomers Shoosh. Limited to just 300 copies, the single comes housed in a sleek little m-lock CD case complete with its familiar black and white Awkward Silence styled artwork. Picking up where they left off, the label continue their ongoing series on limited edition 3″ CDr’s which allow them to include up to 21 minutes of music with each split release. They have also introduced a digital format.
Cheju is UK-based electronic musician and producer Wil Bolton who co-owns respected electronic music label Boltfish Recordings. A prolific artist in his own right, Bolton has EP, album and digital releases for labels including Smallfish, Rednetic Recordings, Static Caravan, Boltfish, October Man Recordings, Kahvi and Camomille (to name just a few) and also has collaborative projects with Mint and Zainetica. For his two tracks on this release he sticks to what he knows and does best; melodic electronic music. The first of Bolton’s tracks, “Moody Copy,” is a melodic flowing track with gently cascading guitar, discrete little reversed effects and crunchy, slightly metallic beats. His second contribution, “Drogo,” is again resplendent with smooth flowing texture, harpsichord-like melodies and precise snappy beats. Of the two tracks, “Drogo” is the darker and more reflective but by no means melancholic.
Shoosh, the trio of Ed Drury, Neil Carlill and Craig Murphy, have a different approach to their music. More guitar-based than Cheju, Shoosh features a love-it-or-hate-it vocal style. Their track “Elastic Soil” is predominantly guitar-based but also features some soaring electronic textures underneath it all. Their second track, “Come in from the Cold,” is weirder still vocally and features shimmering electronic swirls and acoustic guitar. The first of their tracks sounds like Bowie meets Genesis P Orridge while the second is more like Dylan; both sound like drug-addled psychedelic folk.
Awkward Silence’s return produces two distinctly different tracks; Cheju produces two crunchy melodic electronic tracks while Shoosh offer uniquely blissed out weird psychedelic folk excursions. It is good to see that Awkward Silence are willing to experiment with pushing boundaries and introducing something a bit out of the ordinary to listening public. Look out for more releases from the label in coming months, who knows what they will come up with next!
Split Single is out now on Awkward Silence.
