Patched, programmed and tweaked by a modular electronic craftsman, Modular Series • Season-01 showcases not only overlapping and dense audio compositions, but also merges a personal and human feeling throughout this visceral visual and auditory display.
Strange and captivating modular/industrial ice sheets scrape, scratch and screech their way through
Here we find the highly-skilled, France-based Syl Kougaï at his most creative where strange and captivating modular/industrial ice sheets scrape, scratch and screech their way through a myriad of glitchy soundscapes. Modular Series • Season-01 was released and delivered as digital episodes (1—7) starting November of 2020. As the tracks were completed, fans received the next episode until the (now sold out) MiniDisc and digital package was complete.
There’s a lively and otherworldly transition of deformed electronics on this album. Just listen to “Sur la Ropitaire” as a prime example where time is insignificant and each sonic element is stretched to their outer limits—detuned blips and bleeps submerge in rhythmic, pseudo-electro abstracts and surreal darker quarters. The layers of dust and debris that rests on these fluid pieces (ie. “Par la rivière du Fenrir”) continue to expand and unfold with each listen. I’ve continually found subtle sound bites present themselves and then disappear with each listening experience.
An alien industrial aura pushes each percussive jolt forward (ie. “Les jardins magnétiques”) as other slow-motion pieces crawl through muddy and tangled cliff sides (ie. “Gracieux Chrysomallos”). Syl Kougaï also offers wide angle synth-ambient projections that pull at the heartstrings (ie. “Les jours meilleurs”) reminiscent of Alessandro Cortini or Datach’i’s output over the past few years and Richard Devine’s obscured angular machine grooves.
Patched, programmed and tweaked by a modular electronic craftsman, Modular Series • Season-01 showcases not only overlapping and dense audio compositions, but also merges a personal and human feeling throughout this visceral visual and auditory display.
Modular Series • Season-01 is available on Bandcamp.
