Applescal is a young producer from the Netherlands whose music navigates both techno and IDM territories. At the tender age of 24, Applescal has released 3 albums ‘Beaming Flowers From India’ (As ‘Yoshiba 87’) [Atomnation, 2012], ‘A Mishmash of Changing moods’ [Traum, 2010] & ‘A Slave’s Commitment’ [Traum, 2009]), as well as several other releases on Traum Schallplatten, Manual Music and more recently on RTFKT Collective.
Not limited to releasing a host of records to acclaim from the likes of Pitchfork, DJ Mag, Resident Advisor, XLR8R and more, this young producer extraordinaire has remixed for artists like Extrawelt, Ricardo Tobar and Nick Warren. When he’s not busy making music, Applescal is 1/5th of online music collective www.rtfkt.net & runs the label Atomnation. [David Douglas, Yoshiba87 & AnimalZOO].
Applescal plays his live set all over Europe and is also known for his side project ‘Yoshiba 87’.
Applescal is back with a new album, titled ‘Dreaming in Key’. The record comes out February 5th 2013.
You can pre-order the release here: http://atomnation.bandcamp.com/album/dreaming-in-key-full-album
‘Dreaming In Key’ comprises eleven tracks that float between the space of electronica and techno, taking in a hint of breaks and including glorious harmonies you are unlikely to have heard before. The tracks are colourful and dreamy in their own way, and work perfectly as dance floor anthems or headphone classics.
We were lucky enough to have an early listen:
Opening track ‘Boys’ (feat. David Douglas) is a like being wrapped loosely in a tattered bandage. It feels constricting and defiling. The impish squeaks of sound soon infiltrate – and the rasping textures do all that they can to make you shed your skin.
‘With The Sea’ is toasted and crisp. It has malty flavours and sepia tinted stains across its finely inlaid surface. A flashing, chirpy beat is like a death watch beetle sounding in the night, and then the fine sounds uncomb themselves and splay out like an unfolding paper fan.
‘Spring and Life’ hops around like a cricket. Bouncing from blade to blade. The hissing sprinklers provide a background for sparkling glassy tones, reminiscent of cocktails being gently slid across crystal bar-tops.
‘Vintage Clown Shadow Hunters’ is a gummy candy-box of assorted sounds and crispy wrappers. Flickety rhythms titillate like burbling jellyfish as they float faithlessly to an oily surface.
‘Wise Noise On Time’ (feat. Lanny May) is wily and steet-wise. It holds its shoulders proud as it lunges down the road. Ignoring safety signs. It steps unconcerned into the path of dangerous objects. This is a constantly striving beast. Out to get more than you can give.
‘El Diablo (Live Version)’ is like listening to a submerged church organ played by a depressed cuttlefish. Several notes are played at once, and as the beat builds up rapidly , it starts to take over your life. It’s sparkling, confused and fluidly gargling.
And final track, ‘Keep On Dreaming’ is like experiencing a glowing night light of the gentlest sounds. But a stronger, less natural, stark light sneaks and leaks in through the floorboards; And the glare from this can play with your mind. Creating nocturnal visions of monsters and shadowy claws. If you try to concentrate on the candelas, they help to heal your mind. But don’t stare at the light for too long. It can do permanent damage.
Keep on dreaming.
-© Neil_Mach January 2013 –
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