Francesca
Homology EP

After a first dancefloor-oriented release, Vilamar open their second editorial line dedicated to more narrative explorations with this sonorous 6-track mini album, written and composed in 2019 by Hiroma Keo. Formal yet experimental, each track plays with textural contrasts, gossamer lightness brushing up against uncompromising density. The result is a thing of austere beauty: from the cinematic opener to the climactic rush of the finale you will find shimmering arpeggios, industrial polyrhythms and, at one point, even an unabashedly 80s synth lead. Made in Lisbon, but with its gaze fixed firmly beyond the horizon.

One year on from the passing of label co-founder and artist Alex Smith, Flash as a Rat returns with its 6th instalment. Digby, co-founder and brother to Alex, continues the siblings' form for emotionally intelligent and sound focussed minimal. 'Briefmacken' bumps through waves of kicks and glitches to arrive at moments of peaceful clarity, whilst 'Constantly' swings with off kilter hisses and pops around a metallic organ sequence, making it's claustrophobic way towards a beautifully layered string section at the crescendo. The typically pared back artwork this time inverts the colour scheme from the brothers' first ever release on their own label, marking the record simultaneously the ending of one chapter and the beginning of the next.

Having made his debut with the track ‘Sky Stepping’ on ‘Of Paradise Vol. 2’, Will Lister now cements his status as a full time family member with the release of his ‘Glow EP’, a masterful four-tracker that firmly establishes this young talent as one to watch in 2020 and beyond.Kicking off the A-side is ‘Glow’ a cinematic and expansive slice of deftly produced electronica. Pattering synths and glistening melodies work in unison with full-bodied drums and intricate percussion to create an atmospheric and intoxicating journey through sound and rhythm. Following this is ‘Pleasant Air’ a deconstructed and slightly frantic house number. Playful melodies, stumbling drums and urgent percussion all work together to build a wonderfully colourful yet sinister landscape of sound.The flipside launches with ‘Patience’, a spiralling and constantly building breaks affair that pushes the release into darker territory and showcases a rich new layer to Lister’s dynamic and expansive sound. Closing out the EP is ‘Forth’ an expertly crafted piece of electronic music that sits somewhere between deconstructed house, techno and breaks. Jagged drums, razor sharp percussion and sentient synths cut through the smoke like the distress signal from a long lost starship, as Lister pushes things into uncharted territory and brings the lights down on a breathtaking collection of future music.

Winter is here. It's time stoke up the fire, turn up the tunes and Batter Down with Toké.