Modeling draw closer to an upcoming EP with ‘Low Fantasy’

Creators of cinematic synthwave, Modeling are furthering their relationship with the genre through steps into future landscapes

Working together under the name ‘Modeling’, brothers Connor, Ryan and Cuinn Brogan produce electronic music tailored towards use in cinema. Soft pads and synth form a significant part of the often gentle environments the three producers build together, filling the atmosphere around them with calming tones which transport the listener to a place shaped by the trio.

Modeling are clearly at home with the solace imbibed worlds of chillwave, but have also shown talent in other areas of synth. ‘Lodestone’ is an example of a release which conjures up dystopian realms of sci-fi, and ‘Apex’ ushers in a more minimalist perspective. Classical piano and strings appear in the discography of the group, as well as the occasional addition of intimate vocals which capture a sense of both emotion and distance.

The current series of releases from Modeling is taking them closer to an upcoming EP of synthwave. Ultimately planned to feature six tracks, the group recently made public the second track from the collection earlier this month, titled ‘Low Fantasy’.

The EP will develop the group’s relationship with dystopian territories, though perhaps from a more melancholic than aggressive perspective. ‘Low Fantasy’ makes its presence known with an open sky of broad synth waves, chased by repeating melodies.

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Weightless Synthwave as CLAYRANGE makes his debut

READ DESCRIPTION FOR DISCLAIMER/ VIDEO INFO* CLAYRANGE - 'Voyager' Available on AppleMusic @ https://music.apple.com/jp/album/1520197833 Available on Spotif...

CLAYRANGE makes an assertive entrance, leading a series of singles with the mellow toned ‘Voyager’

The artist who now goes by the name of CLAYRANGE made his first impact back in 2004, with tracks from his debut EP later being selected as part of a collection for Café Del Mar Music, alongside other downtempo, ambient inclusions.

Still actively producing from his local area of Tokyo, July 2020 saw the birth of a new project and the adoption of the CLAYRANGE alias. The first few tracks have been appearing with rapid succession, music which draws from cosmic synthwave and instrumental hip hop.

The track which CLAYRANGE announced himself with was ‘Voyager’, an ambient mix of twinkling starlight and a heavily softened vocal chorus. Electronica which turns its view to cosmic landscapes can often create a feeling of powerlessness, using broad waves of synth to create contrast between the listener and the open expanse of sound confronting them. With a less overbearing attitude, Voyager encourages mellow relaxation as we drift past vocal harmonies and distant melodies, taking a few moments to float in an atmosphere of peaceful wonder.

Further singles are steadily being added to CLAYRANGE’s discography, taking on influence from areas such as house and hip hop. As the number of tracks increases, CLAYRANGE’s universe is set to expand along with them.

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Commercial subversion, from Chayse Porter with ‘Carol’s Boutique’

Chayse Porter (Human Beat, Seriously) takes you on a journey of lost and long-forgotten splendor, where the sound of soft keyboard flute rings out from an ov...

Chayse Porter is an active component of the music scene of Alabama, taking the role of bassist in the punk group ‘Human Beat’, as well as getting involved with the more laid back tones of the band ‘Seriously’. His most recent release takes a departure from these genres, although there’s a tangible counter-culture irony in the muzac style of ‘Carol’s Boutique’.

The track came through the Earth Libraries label, supporters of modern punk, psych and experimental and with whom Porter has worked previously. Made public on May 2nd, the track fits neatly in the easy listening zone and took inspiration from shopping mall local to Porter.

As intended, it’s an enjoyable, evanescent track which seems somewhat passive at face value. The twist that gives this one flavour is the detail at the edges of the track, beyond the melody put together with thrift store keyboards. Faint synth starts to fade in an air of vaporwave to match the commercial overtone captured by Porter, and the samples at the edge of hearing which fit an altogether different aesthetic comprised partly of the slow build up to a subtly jarring outro, leaving the consumerist atmosphere unsure of itself.

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Slow beat synthesis, Albin’s ‘III’

From Albin Johansson comes a slow tempo track which reassess rhythms of west Africa, breaking down the essential beats in order to reconstruct them through a modernist filter. 

With some collaboration from other creators in the electronic community, Johansson has been cultivating his discography as a solo artist since around 2013, creating music which leans towards a downtempo vibe. This work comes through the moniker ‘Albin’, a creative outlet maintained alongside membership with live performing groups Solander, Big Fox, and Astromike Gordon.

Johansson has also wandered into the forest of electropop with ‘PAL’, his personal project turned trio. Together with bass player Cristoffer Csanady and drummer Adam Hjertström, ‘PAL’ has produced a tidy collection of remixes tied together with two albums.

Johansson’s recent release ‘III’ is a return to the Albin alias and to the roots of electronic. Moog and Roland synthesizers drag in synth waves reminiscent of the paradoxically dated yet futuristic era of cyber noir cinema. The beat that lies below that synth is more minimalist however, chasing through a reliable pulse.

The single is a frontrunner for upcoming album ‘Passage’, set for a 28th of May release date and promising to bring us up to date with Johansson’s unique sound.

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Home-grown in New York: Astral Bird’s ‘K2000’

Mixed by Will Owen Bennet Mastered by Nicholas Di Lorenzo

When artists spend time picking through samples, aligning up beat tracks, and getting in touch with sound that inspires them, that energy electrifies their work. Real experience and emotion makes real music, and the warmth that resonates through the beats created by Astral Bird forms a link between you and the people behind the project.

Kicking off as a high school duo in New York, Benn Gabriner and Jake Brussel Faria have been piecing together singles which string together gems of innovation. Their approach to the sound they’re collaborating often changes, the mood in their tracks shifts around to hit on different vibes, and it’s apparent that the two are searching for different techniques to mess around with and try out. There’s no discoordination in the end product though. Bars of synthwave link together with found sound, glitch and jazz-hop. There’s an overall atmosphere of mellow lo-fi house, but always with an original flavour.

Gabriner and Faria are now divided by distance and based in LA and Brooklyn respectively, with a fairly sporadic release rate. On this occasion however, we’re presented with a solo effort from Gabriner as he releases ‘K2000’ under the Astral Bird moniker. The New York inspired soul is still there.

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Climbing the peaks of Ocoeur 's Glow

Glow is from Ocoeur's 6th album Everything. Out on Feb 28th

Franck Zaragoza has a long standing relationship with n5MD records, where he has released a steady stream of cinematic palettes of sound under his Ocoeur moniker. Focused, always immersive, visceral long-form ambient and electronica, Zaragoza has developed a back catalogue that has left his distinguished finger print on all that he touches. 

’Glow’ from his sixth studio album ‘Everything’ (releasing Feb 28th) is a track rich in textured off-set rhythms and poised, fragile atmosphere. The opening melody with its deliberate plodding notation gives us a sense of innocence in motion, like a baby taking its first steps. We feel included in something tender but the presence of the glacial pads keeps us from drifting off entirely. Ninety seconds in, naturalistic percussion comes into play, adding some movement that brings us to a heightened sense of place and purpose, which Glow does very well. At it’s peak Glow elevates its sense of innocence to a place of powerful grace and while Zaragoza could have dramatized this easily- he doesn’t, instead he expresses his message with layered subtleties resulting in a pure and steady healing glow.

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Synthwave with a heart of Sci-fi: Wavescapes’ ‘Stardust’

Len van de Laak and Tim Barning of Wavescapes were brought together through their study at Conservatorium van Amsterdam, a division of Amsterdam’s University of Art. Their first track together, ‘Circe’, was produced as a cinematic soundtrack. Although the short movie it was intended to score never came to fruition, this collaboration marked the beginning of a partnership dedicated to development of electronic music without limitations.

Previously Wavescapes have worked together with artists including Bertolf and Dotan, and their music is being featured in HUGO BOSS promotional material for the Spring/Summer 2020 Fashion Show in Milan. 

Cinematic textures thread throughout their tracks, with sweeping atmospheric vibes that bring colour to new ideas, new places, and new perspectives. Influence of Sci-fi on their production process is evident, as the pair guides the environment of each release in the direction of genres like Vaporwave and Synthwave. Their aesthetic is often more at home in the darker, more muted areas of synth, though the occasional introduction of classical piano lends a hauntingly emotional edge.

As the decade ends, Wavescapes introduces us to their 11 track eponymous debut album through ‘Stardust’, a futuristic track supported by purposeful electronic beats and glittering waves of synth.

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