British sound artist Robin Rimbaud (otherwise known as Scanner) is continually pushing boundaries in the perception of sound and its use as expression. Almost constantly travelling around the world, often with multiple projects running simultaneously, Rimbaud is always experimenting with some new concept in sound. Whether it is an art installation, playing a concert on a London bus, writing a new soundtrack work or collaborating with other artists, designers or musicians, Rimbaud is perpetually busy and always looking for new ideas.
With Lost Without Light EP, the first in a series of limited edition 10 ten-inch only vinyl releases for Underscan Records, Rimbaud takes a break from his hectic schedule to deliver 3 new tracks for our collective listening pleasure. The opener – “Canton Lathe” – gently rumbles, rattles and throbs along in an almost clanging experimental dub fashion. Carefully layered, “Canton Lathe” trundles along at a steadily increasing pace, rhythmic yet serene whilst playfully sampling radio interviews – curiously about the colouring in sausages. Clocking in at just over 2 minutes, “Forget Me” is the shortest track on the EP and continues where “Canton Lathe” left off. Almost metallic blips and soothing tones sit over field recordings of someone walking down a street, complete with the background noise of the city for added authenticity. The final track, “Backwood”, picks up the pace with rhythmic tapping beats alongside vocal harmonies and busy almost metallic keyboards, ominous sweeping tones and a mishmash of sampled children’s voices.
Carefully composed with many layers of differing sounds, Rimbaud’s music is multi-faceted and complex with each layer interacting perfectly to form a whole. Rimbaud’s music is always captivating and ever-changing, not dramatically so but subtly and consistently shifting as he moves from concept to concept and project to project, his music is always worth checking out and submersing yourself in.
