Following their debut release – the Reframing mini-album – on Pause_2 in 2000 Sasha Zaitsev and Ilya Baramiya (EU) were inundated with requests from labels such as Peacefrog, Merck, Vertical Form and Neo Ouija for compilation tracks. Their popularity soared after Pause_2 introduced their brand of melodic, glitchy yet simplistic sounding electronic melodies to the UK and beyond. Warm Math is their debut full-length release and sees them move away from the digital precision seen to date towards a warmer more organic sound.
Zaitsev and Baramiya take slick yet discrete rhythmic beats, placing them next to gentle melodies and setting it all against a warm organic backdrop of retro sci-fi sounds. Add to that some soaring atmospheric synths and odd effects and the whole fusion of sound, while being quite odd sounding at first, results in a soothing wave of sonic smoothness. The glitchiness is still evident in tracks like “Salva” and “Puerto” but with reduced emphasis in favour of a lusher more radiant texture.
Warm Math is an intriguing fusion of clinical beats and glitches alongside lush flowing electronics. At first, the combination sounds a little strange but soon makes way for soothing enveloping warmth of the more organic elements of the music. An ultra-modern yet lush and oddly retro album with sharp beats and fluid textures. Recommended.
