Untide unfolds with an air of ambivalent exotica, conjuring a carefree Shangri-La where shady figures lurk in some of its downtown backstreets.
Billowing into view, Untide is a new solo project by Daniel Lofreda Rota, a Californian via Quito, schooled violist, photographer and videographer who has previously released as LoFeye and has a new record in the works as Theythen.
Untide’s self-titled debut reverberates with bell tones and tropical hallucinations that cast weird shadows. Rota sings, only very occasionally, abstractedly and level with the rest of the mix, in a voice that grows increasingly less irritating as the record progresses. But his bells and vibes ring true, his strings are lithe and piano emollient, and his beats catchy.
Untide unfolds with an air of ambivalent exotica, conjuring a carefree Shangri-La where shady figures lurk in some of its downtown backstreets. Ironically, the most bell-free track is called “Bellringer,” unexpected lover’s reggae followed immediately by its string syrupy dub. As one track title puts it, Untide is a “Strange Rendezvous” indeed.
Untide is available on Somehow. [Bandcamp]
