Young Marco
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RDS plumbs the depths of analogue texture on his Kalahari debut proper. Following a guest appearance on Eversines’ ‘Plooi’ EP, the Amsterdam artist returns to explore the more expansive integers of his hi-tech sound across four deftly crafted tracks.It's exactly the sort of enveloping, sophisticated material we’ve come to expect from a De Lichting member.Straight deep space manoeuvres on the opener. Setting billowing widescreen pads against solid, tight groove, ‘2312’ feels as if it’s escaping the eye of some turbulent solar event. Then, landing with a sensitivity absent from the harsh climes of its predecessor, ‘BBsuite’ leaps from translunar to tenderness with dappled keys and lithe breakbeat intricacy. Saying that, there’s still something undeniably explorative and sc-fi in its mood, almost reminiscent of Orbital or Future Sound of London.

This record was made in Naarm / Melbourne, Australia. It was conceived in 2019 and completed in 2020 against the backdrop of historic bushfires that burned 18 million hectares. The music is deeply rooted in the Australian landscape, the rhythms and textures of rainfall, coastlines and open spaces.Recorded in collaboration with percussionist Phil Stroud, the rhythm tracks are a fusion of drum machines and hand drums, loose percussion, human voices and tuned percussion immersed in water. Joined by analog synthesisers, layered vocals, processed guitar and field recordings, the music evokes solastalgia and reverence for nature.The final track, Golden Hour, came from an improvisation with multi-instrumentalist Adam Halliwell on flute and jazz musician Jack Doepel on Korg bass, later transposed to modular synthesiser.The cover artwork was painted by Australian artist Charlotte Alldis during the winter of 2020. It depicts regrowth after the bushfires, life returning to a blackened landscape.

On their debut LP “Pome” for Quiet Time, Liai has given us a stunning work of expertly crafted rhythmic ambience, inspired by the intimacy and solitude of the midwestern countryside. Having grown up in rural Missouri, Liai channels the mixed feelings that can accompany solo contemplation in nature - expansiveness, sentimentality, vulnerability and eeriness. This deeply personal set of tracks took 3 years to make, revealed in the precision of sound design and use of space. The work feels at once familiar and organic, yet technical and futuristic, almost alien - a product of digital melodies, granular processing and frequent sampling of their own previous works.