What does it sound like?:
A mix of ambient, modern classical, drum & bass and techno – occasionally in isolation, sometimes all together but never less than gorgeously mounted – ‘Portrait in Firewood’ is not just an audacious album, it’s also perfectly realised. Right now, just a few listens in, I think it’s flawless. It’s certainly my favourite album of the year so far. Singer Lola Empire contributes heartbreaking vocals for ‘Waters Rising’; elsewhere there are filmic samples from — of all places — ‘Meet Joe Black’, which, considering that DnB producers normally like to quote Scarface or Vietnam movies, contributes to a sense of Djrum (aka Felix Manuel) baring his soul. ‘Beautiful’ is the only word to describe most of what’s on offer here, and that’s not normally an adjective you get to employ around bass music or DnB.
What does it all *mean*?
It’s inspired by the artist Marina Abramović, but I won’t pretend to know anything about that.
Goes well with…
Sitting, listening, in awe.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that if you like electronic music — any electronic music — you’ll love this.
It isn’t often i go straight to Spotty after a review. This certainly had me chomping the worm offered. “Classictronica”, if you will. (Horrid glib description, but works.) Thanks. It’s in the post now.
Post being euphemism, it being “modern” so only available as an expensive long player or a download. Download required, interestingly, p@p from band camp, demolishing the otherwise saving on the amazon price, so caveat emptor.
I too rushed to Spotty, and was well impressed. The two words I would use are ‘intense’ and that’s just on crappy work PC speakers, let alone headphones, and ‘focused’. A lot of hyperdub stuff is deliberately gauzy, unfocused, as if the real track has been partly copied and now heard on a dodgy C90. This is the rhythms and claustrophobia of burial, but in pin-sharp focus. Impressive. And @retropath2 it is on emusic.
But I’m not (any more); threw in the towel.
I was getting there over the summer, very little of current interest in July/Aug and there’s a limit to how much catalogue stuff is good for you. But Djrum, Menace Beach, Waxahatchee, Black Dog, Helena Hauff, Our Girl are filling up this month’s credits already.
Plus Gwenifer Raymond, Ross from Friends, Maribou State…
GOT QWENIFER, WAXAHATCHEE.
Sold!
This is fabulous!
Without The Afterword & you, Leicester, I might have missed it. I’m very grateful.
Brilliant!
Retro, I bought the vinyl, which sadly didn’t come with a download card. It sounds lovely but the drawback is that it’s four sides (sigh), with ‘Creature’ parts one and two split over sides A & B.
I have done my six listens, and it’s a thumbs up from me. It’s not all great, gets a bit noodly and unfocused at times, but when it’s good (Creature pt 2 and Blue Violet particularly) it’s really good. The samples are nicely different as well, as you say, put me in mind of The Thin Red Line extracts on the second Explosions In The Sky album. It won’t topple Skee Mask from his electronica album of the year throne, but it could be his Grand Vizier (not entirely sure where I’m going with this).
Just listened to Skee Mask @kid-dynamite, both Compro and Mat are seriously good. Great tip.
I think I must be listening to a different LP than everyone else…. this is rather turgid.
Well, wouldn’t life be boring if we all liked the same stuff, eh!
‘Turgid’!? ‘Tumescent’, at least!
Say, Kid, have you heard Overlook? I mention it because his use of movie samples also, coincidentally, reminds me of the Explosions In The Sky Thin Red Line quotes. Also, I think you will like Overlook.
I have now heard Overlook (the Smoke Signals album). I approve, very sepulchral (which is a positive attribute round my way, I’ll have you know).
It didn’t engage with me, but I wouldn’t describe it as turgid.
T-shirt slogan.