Vails :: Elysian Fields EP (Subtle Energy)

Although Vails has enough dexterity to travel between genres, his synthwave sensibility seems to stand out, which could be a very promising direction for future releases.

Elysian Fields could easily compose a futuristic movie soundtrack

Vails is the alias of an electronic music producer from England who began this project focused on thumping electro with a release through A-trak’s imprint Fool’s Gold in 2013. After being away for a while, Vails returns on a different note with Elysian Fields, via Subtle Energy, very inspired by the artist’s new home in LA, a city that exhales sounds from its film industry scene. This EP could easily compose a futuristic movie soundtrack, for it feels as each piece creates ambience to an imaginary cinematic sequence. The tracks are rather short, as if they were made to show glimpses of the artist’s wide range of genre versatility and music production skills in sound design.

The title track starts the EP with a potent low-end synth and anthemic effects that take the listener directly into a movie theater. Then it progresses with Bladerunner resembling horns complemented by a constant beat drive which dictates the energy towards an action blockbuster yet to be experienced. On the other hand, “Zephyr” evokes contrasting feelings as an enigmatic melody and dissonant sounds exchange with a chill out house music track foundation featuring sitar-like timbres. Despite “Redlands” begins with Middle East cultural elements continuing the previous mood, the artist pulls a Trent Reznor sounding saw bassline sidechained to a less electronic percussion and a lead synth that references the 80s, which result in the perfect transition to the next track. “Lateral Flow,” the high point of the EP, is a beautiful tune where Vails blends retro-future feelings with contemporary aesthetics by distilling Synthwave vibes à la Com Truise and a cool combo of vocal samples and pads. It’s that amazing track you wish was three times longer. “Aero Barren” follows with the vintage eighties spirit but also brings good memories from early 2010 as the synth arpeggiator and beat grooves shout out Indie Dance’s precious attributes.

Although Vails has enough dexterity to travel between genres, his synthwave sensibility seems to stand out, which could be a very promising direction for future releases.

Elysian Fields is available on Subtle Energy. [Bandcamp]