The melodies are structured to remain accessible, mysteriously distant yet oddly uplifting. Percussion and rhythms are sci-fi cerebral and, whilst unashamedly experimental in that Warp/Skam ethos, will have you busting your favorite robot moves and cranking up the volume (again).
With seemingly no end in sight of unexpected releases in 2013, there comes another in the form of Luke William’s Quinoline Yellow moniker. Serving up a six track EP on Andrea Parker’s re-invigorated imprint Touchin’ Bass—a further happy emergence from the wilderness—Palisade Mount explores similar terrain to previous Skam releases from the artist. The last Quinoline Yellow full length, Dol-Goy Assist, has hit this writer’s turntable many a time since its 2005 release—all quirky diffused IDM scrunch and catchy sci-fi melodics of the highest interplanetary order. It’s great to hear Luke back on form in 2013 and even more pleasing that he’s stuck to a fairly similar sound palette—if you are a fan of previous QY work then Palisade Mount will certainly not disappoint.
Opener “Dinas Hide” marks a rare departure into 4/4 thump alongside the introduction of 303 funk complimenting a sublime mid-track pad breakdown—immediately conjuring up images of binary sunsets on cold distant planets. “Lags Demotags” kicks off with deceptively catchy melodic work whilst rhythms whir, compress and clunk like otherworldly robotic jackhammers. “The Recital of Dolwen Fields” ups the tempo considerably with frenetic AFX / Squarepusher style clatter around which yearning melancholic progressions flutter. EP highlight takes the shape of “Congregation” where staccato vocal samples provide a complex syncopated backbone to serene, ethereal synth work. Closing track “Argon of August” comes a close second with a rolling electro break and further shimmering moon dust infused melodics.
Paliside Mount finds Quinoline Yellow keeping to a tried and tested formula yet delivers a highly enduring listen. The melodies are structured to remain accessible, mysteriously distant yet oddly uplifting. Percussion and rhythms are sci-fi cerebral and, whilst unashamedly experimental in that Warp/Skam ethos, will have you busting your favorite robot moves and cranking up the volume (again).
One for fans of Amber-era Autechre, Ochre, Bola, Arovane and the more industrial end of melodic IDM.
Palisade Mount is available on Touchin’ Bass. [Download | Vinyl]
