Solar Powered Electronica from Tree Bosier

Tree Bosier is the alias of St Petersburg based musician and producer Max Ananyev. Often producing, mixing and mastering, and releasing his music at a steady pace, it is no secret that Max keeps busy. Whether it be ambient, hip hop, bass, or jazz, a defining characteristic of Max’s music is his use of electro acoustic guitar, and a variety of acoustic instruments in combination with digital and analog electronics.

Released in the midst of the summer heat and dedicated to natural phenomena and the sun, ‘Solstice’, Max’s latest EP on Belarusian label Ezhevika, covers some ground and leads the listener through 6 tracks of lush, textured ambient and indie electronics. The title track ‘Solstice’ defiantly sets the pace with a steady, syncopated kick and snare, holding its groove alongside a drifting and spacious synth. Equinox and Wind Control System follow in a similar vein, polyrhythmic, dubbed out, and hopeful. Observatory refreshes the pallet, with it’s slow and spacious live drumming, while Incandescence and merging as well as Whale song tie the release together, providing some ambient introspection. 

Check out ‘Solstice’ on Bandcamp and more of Tree Bosier below. 

Soundcloud / Instagram / Facebook / Spotify

Ezhevika Label
Soundcloud / Instagram / Facebook / Spotify

Escape to Another World with Escape The Loops

Of all the modern day electronic music genres, perhaps none are surrounded by as much ambiguity and individuality as IDM. In fact, ‘Intelligent Dance Music’ is a name which many of the scene’s biggest stalwarts, like Aphex Twin, actively reject. Regardless of the labelling though, the genre itself is a dynamic melting pot of techno, breaks, brain-bubbling sound design and finely tuned production. Coincidentally this sentence also perfectly describes St. Petersburg-based producer Escape the Loops’ recent release ‘Archive pt.3’.

The album features an impressive sound design palette that is truly a feast for the ears. Breaking outside the confines of genre-defined electronic music, Loops is able to conjure up a collection of tracks that really play by their own rules. From the breakneck percussion of the opening track ‘Sleeping Eggplant’ to the soothing melodies of ‘Bob’s Green Mazda’ and the dubby feel of ‘Microtuning16 final 2’ the spectrum of expression and auditory acumen throughout the album warrants multiple listens.

Although technical sound design and production runs deep throughout the album, it never feels high brow or elitist but rather remains fun, playful and accessible throughout. Not only does Escape the Loops turn these original sketches into a fully realized 9 track album but he does so in a way that is uniquely his own.

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'point of departure,' a harmonically tuned machine of a track from octo17

The first thing you can tell about ‘point of departure,’ a brand new track from St. Petersburg’s octo17, is that it was built with precision. Like a seasoned machinist steadfastly grinding away parts for the perfectly tuned machine, octo17 produces a sonic aesthetic that is crisp, airy, and grounded in harmony. Every component of the track works with another, whether it be the harmonizing arps, call-and-return stabs, or cross-panned percussion.

And because everything works together, it builds quite naturally to a satisfying climax, taking its time to get there. Fans of melodic or slow techno will surely appreciate this one. Stream it above, and after follow octo17 on Soundcloud to keep up with the rest of his output.

- review by autonomy